The Asiatic Banking Corporation
1864-1866 - Colombo

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
Pick-lk S102
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
	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 N^o ##### 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 Ent^d _____ Acc^t ______ 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 & C^o 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 & C^o 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 £1, £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.