The Asiatic Banking Corporation
1864-1866 - Colombo

Currency Notes in Sterling issued between 1864 and 1866 by The Asiatic Banking Corporation, in Colombo, with an engraving of a Bank Arms.

Denomination: 10 Shillings
Design Color: Green
Text Color : Black
English : Ten Shillings
Sinhala රුපියල්පහයි
ෂිලින්දහයයි
Thamil ஐந்துரூபாய்
பத்துஷீலீன்
Size : 207 x 127 mm
Date : ___ 18__
Status : Remainder
images/186x_abc_cmb_10s_wm.jpg
Pick-lk S106A
Click to see watermark.
Denomination: 1 Pound
Design Color: Brown
Text Color : Black
English : One Pound
Sinhala රුපියල්දහයයි
පවඬ්එකයි
Thamil பத்துரூபாய்
ஒருபவுண்ட்
Size : 207 x 128 mm
Date : 1st November 1865
Status : Signed
images/186x_abc_cmb_1p_16009_77_f.jpg
Pick-lk S102
Click to see signed note.
Denomination: 5 Pounds
Design Color: Orange
Text Color : Black
English : Five Pounds
Sinhala රුපියල්පනහයි
පවඬ්පහයි
Thamil ஐம்பதுரூபாய்
ஐந்துபவுண்ட்
Size : 203 x 125 mm
Date : ___ 18__
Status : Specimen
Pick-lk S103
Denomination: 10 Pounds
Design Color: Lilac
Text Color : Black
English : Ten Pounds
Sinhala රුපියල්සියයයි
පවඬ්දහයයි
Thamil நூறுரூபாய்
பத்துபவுண்ட்
Size : 205 x 124 mm
Date : 1st November 1865
Status : Signed
images/1865_abc_cmb_10p_11021-1422_f.jpg&images/186x_abc_cmb_10p_wm.jpg
Click to see image of signed note. Pick-lk S104
Click again to see watermark.

Front : On a decorated rectangular wide border centered on top in Sinhala යෙසියතික්බන්කිඬ්කොර්පොරේෂන්. on bottom in Thamil யெசியதிக்.பெங்கிங்கொர்ப்பொறேஷன், Denomination in Pounds on left in Sinhala පවඬ් & in Thamil  பவுண்ட் and in Rupees on Right in Sinhala රුපියල් & in Thamil ரூபாய் Numeric Denomination in 4 corners without unit of currency. Within border on top ASIATIC BANKING CORPORATION below center crowned British Royal Coat of arms in decorate within belt with legend THE ASIATIC BANKING CORPORATION and below in waving scroll legend INCORPORATED _ BY ROYAL _ CHARTER. On either side Denomination in English in decorate with No ##### in shaded rectangle below. Within shaded rectangle shape THE ASIATIC BANKING CORPORATION Promises to pay bearer on demand at their Branch in COLOMBO in the Currency of the Island DENOMINATION POUNDS (highlighted) value received THE ASIATIC BANKING CORPORATION in Micro-Text cover shaded region with Denomination Pounds outlined in large Text on it.
Below COLOMBO ____ 18__ .
Below By Order of the Court of Directors above in one line Entd _____ Acct ______ Manager with two manuscript signatures if issued.
with Huge Numeric Value in black as centered under-print.
In small text outside border in bottom center SMITH ELDER & Co ENGRAVERS LONDON
Back : Blank used for Endorsements
Watermark : ASIATIC in a downward arc above BANKING CORPORATION in an upward arc below, written with Lighter than paper outline.
Printed : Smith Elder & Co Engravers London.
Size : Size of Frame Measured on £1 note from Colombo National Museum collection and assumed to be same for all denominations.

Note that the value in vernacular Sinhala and Thamil is also given in Rupees, as the Indian Rupee was the familiar currency in circulation. One Pound Sterling equaled to Ten Rupees.

Images from Auction listings mostly from Spink Auction listings 10s, £1 rem., £1 sig., £5 and £10.

Auction Images estimated to be 133(£1) 98(£5) 61(£10) dpi displayed at 50 dpi.

Please contact kavan @ gmail.com if I have made errors in encoding the Thamil in Unicode.