Bonds & Interest RatesBonds

Coupon, Maturity, Face Value

The three numbers on every bond

A bond sold in 2026 already knows every dollar it will pay you until 2056. Which three numbers hold that whole future?

You'll find out

  • The three numbers on every bond
  • Why the interest is called a coupon
  • A real bond the US sold in 2026

Why it matters

Three numbers tell you everything a plain bond will ever pay. Read them and no bond is a mystery again.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 92 · Zone 11

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More in this zone

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  2. 93History of BondsBuy a Bond, Win a WarTens of millions of Americans lent money for World War II
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  4. 95Interest RatesThe Bond SeesawWhen rates rise, existing bond prices fall
  5. 96PromisesA Bond Older Than AmericaA Dutch water-board bond from 1648 still pays interest to Yale today
  6. 97Bond RiskBonds Can't Lose MoneyIn 2022, US bonds had one of their worst years on record
  7. 98Sovereign DebtThe King Who Kept DefaultingPhilip II of Spain didn't pay his debts four times
  8. 99Risk PsychologyThe Price of CertaintyWe pay extra to make a risk disappear completely