Greysheet Catalog Details
The Asiatic Banking Corporation (ABC) was founded in 1860 and operated branches in Ceylon (Colombo and Kandy), China (Shanghai), Hong Kong, and Straits Settlements (Singapore). Notes issued for each region have similar designs differentiated primarily by color, the appearance of the city name of the branch, and the denomination expressed in the local currency. At the onset of the American Civil War (12 April 1861 - 9 May 1865), Britain refused to recognize the Confederate States of America, which in turn refused to supply Britain with cotton. The Asiatic Banking Corporation heavily financed Britain’s alternative cotton ventures, which lead to its failure in 1866 when Britain resumed buying inexpensive cotton from the vanquished Confederate States. Take care not to confuse the Asiatic Banking Corporation with the similarly named Asia Banking Corporation (B7251). For reasons unknown, and at an unknown date, the bank altered the Chinese translation of its name (upper and lower center) from 亜西亜國銀行 to 上海利彰銀行.The English title remained unchanged and the alteration did not take place with Asiatic Banking Corporation banknotes for use outside China.