Final answer:
Zero coupon bonds have no coupon payments over its life and only offer a single payment at maturity. They sell well below their face value (at a deep discount) because they offer no coupons. The U.S. Treasury Department is the most frequent and regular issuer of zero coupon securities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zero coupon bonds are bonds that do not make any coupon payments over their life and only offer a single payment at maturity. These bonds are sold at a deep discount to their face value because they do not offer any coupons. The U.S. Treasury Department is the most frequent and regular issuer of zero coupon securities.