SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                      Pursuant to Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of
                        THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        Date of Report (Date of 
        earliest event reported):                    April 11, 1996


                          AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
              (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                                   DELAWARE
                 (State of other jurisdiction of incorporation)


                 1-3410                               13-0460520
        (Commission File Number)                    (IRS Employer 
                                                  Identification No.)


             200 Park Avenue, 
               New York, NY                           10166-4999
         (Address of principal                        (Zip Code)
           executive offices)


      Registrant's telephone number, 
          including area code:                      (212) 557-9100





  This report on Form 8-K consists of 4 sequentially numbered pages.  
  The exhibit index is located at sequentially numbered page 2.
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

Item 5.  Other Events


   In a Press Release issued on April 11, 1996, American Banknote 
Corporation (the "Corporation") publicly announced that it had 
signed a Purchase Agreement to acquire Leigh-Mardon Security Group
("Leigh-Mardon"), Australia's oldest and largest security printer, 
from Amcor Limited for approximately $95 million.

   Financing of the acquisition will include an investment through an
unrestricted subsidiary of the Corporation, non-recourse lending 
and may also include vendor financing.  Upon closing, it is presently 
anticipated that the Corporation will acquire approximately a 55% equity 
interest in the Leigh-Mardon business for an investment of approximately 
$7 million.  Closing of the transaction is subject to a number of 
conditions including completion of documents and financing arrangements.

   The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of
1996.

   The Corporation's press release dated April 11, 1996 is
incorporated herein by reference.



Item 7.  Exhibits

   A copy of the Corporation's press release dated April 11, 1996 is
attached hereto as Exhibit 1.  **

** Filed electronically herewith.

                             SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. 

                              AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION



DATED: April 16, 1996          BY:    s/  Harvey J. Kesner 
                                           Harvey J. Kesner
 







Page 2

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                              Exhibit 1

                  AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
                         200 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York 10166-4999
                          (212)-557-9100

                                
                                
          AMERICAN BANKNOTE AGREES TO BUY LEIGH-MARDON
                SECURITY GROUP FROM AMCOR LIMITED

NEW YORK, April 11, 1996 -- American Banknote Corporation (NYSE:
ABN) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to
acquire the Leigh-Mardon Security Group, Australia's oldest and
largest security printer, from Amcor Limited in a transaction
valued at approximately US$95 million (approximately A$120
million). 

The transaction is expected to be completed during the second
quarter of 1996.

Melbourne-based Leigh-Mardon, with operating revenue of around
US$95 million (A$120 million) in the latest financial year, has 
approximately 900 employees and operates from 17 locations 
throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian company is expected to be the springboard for
expansion of both the American Banknote and Leigh-Mardon
businesses into the rapidly growing Asian and Pacific regions.

Leigh-Mardon is currently owned by Amcor Limited, the sixth-largest 
global integrated paper and packaging company, through
its wholly-owned Containers Packaging Limited subsidiary.  Under
terms of the sale agreement, Amcor may retain at closing a
minority equity interest in the acquired operations through the
issuance of various securities.

Morris Weissman, Chairman and Chief Executive of American
Banknote, said the Leigh-Mardon purchase would bring together the
businesses of two of the world's oldest private-sector security
printers.

                              -more-



Page 3<PAGE>
<PAGE>

Page 2


"The acquisition of Leigh-Mardon Security will be another
significant step in the continuing growth of our highly
successful international operations and we will use the company
as our base for further expansion into the Australasian markets,"
he said.

"Its diversified operations will allow penetration into various
sectors of the financial areas of these growing economies, from
check printing, electronic printing, financial card
manufacturing, telephone cards and scratch lottery tickets to
electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminals,
driver's license and identification systems."

Mr. Weissman said that, in addition to being the leading security
printer in Australia and having the largest credit card service
bureau in Asia, Leigh-Mardon is the only fully-integrated
national supplier of security products to the Australian and New
Zealand banking sectors.

"It is currently involved in smart card and card reader tests in
Australia and intends to aggressively pursue that line of
business," he said.

American Banknote has obtained financing commitments from a
banking syndicate arranged and managed by Bankers Trust Australia
Limited.  BT Corporate Finance Limited has advised American
Banknote in relation to the acquisition.

American Banknote, through its subsidiaries in Brazil and the
United States, produces a variety of security printed products,
including financial payment and pre-paid telephone cards, foreign
currency, food coupons, stock and bond certificates, travelers
checques, passports, personal checks and treasury checks. 
Through its American Banknote Holographics subsidiary, the
Company also is the world's leading producer of holograms for
security applications, including those on VISA, MasterCard,
Discover and Europay financial cards.


Contact:  Morris Weissman                  Roy Winnick/Jim Fingeroth
          Chief Executive Officer          Kekst and Company
          American Banknote Corporation     (212) 593-2655
         (212) 557-9100



Page 4
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                      Pursuant to Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of
                        THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of 
        earliest event reported):                    April 11, 1996

                          AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
              (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   DELAWARE
                 (State of other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                 1-3410                               13-0460520
        (Commission File Number)                    (IRS Employer 
                                                  Identification No.)

             200 Park Avenue, 
               New York, NY                           10166-4999
         (Address of principal                        (Zip Code)
           executive offices)

      Registrant's telephone number, 
          including area code:                      (212) 557-9100

  This report on Form 8-K consists of 4 sequentially numbered pages.  
  The exhibit index is located at sequentially numbered page 2.
Item 5.  Other Events

   In a Press Release issued on April 11, 1996, American Banknote 
Corporation (the "Corporation") publicly announced that it had 
signed a Purchase Agreement to acquire Leigh-Mardon Security Group
("Leigh-Mardon"), Australia's oldest and largest security printer, 
from Amcor Limited for approximately $95 million.

   Financing of the acquisition will include an investment through an
unrestricted subsidiary of the Corporation, non-recourse lending 
and may also include vendor financing.  Upon closing, it is presently 
anticipated that the Corporation will acquire approximately a 55% equity 
interest in the Leigh-Mardon business for an investment of approximately 
$7 million.  Closing of the transaction is subject to a number of 
conditions including completion of documents and financing arrangements.

   The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of
1996.

   The Corporation's press release dated April 11, 1996 is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Exhibits

   A copy of the Corporation's press release dated April 11, 1996 is
attached hereto as Exhibit 1.  **

** Filed electronically herewith.

                             SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. 

                              AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION

DATED: April 16, 1996          BY:    s/  Harvey J. Kesner 
                                           Harvey J. Kesner
 

Page 2
Exhibit 1

                  AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
                         200 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York 10166-4999
                          (212)-557-9100

                                
                                
          AMERICAN BANKNOTE AGREES TO BUY LEIGH-MARDON
                SECURITY GROUP FROM AMCOR LIMITED

NEW YORK, April 11, 1996 -- American Banknote Corporation (NYSE:
ABN) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to
acquire the Leigh-Mardon Security Group, Australia's oldest and
largest security printer, from Amcor Limited in a transaction
valued at approximately US$95 million (approximately A$120
million). 

The transaction is expected to be completed during the second
quarter of 1996.

Melbourne-based Leigh-Mardon, with operating revenue of around
US$95 million (A$120 million) in the latest financial year, has 
approximately 900 employees and operates from 17 locations 
throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian company is expected to be the springboard for
expansion of both the American Banknote and Leigh-Mardon
businesses into the rapidly growing Asian and Pacific regions.

Leigh-Mardon is currently owned by Amcor Limited, the sixth-largest 
global integrated paper and packaging company, through
its wholly-owned Containers Packaging Limited subsidiary.  Under
terms of the sale agreement, Amcor may retain at closing a
minority equity interest in the acquired operations through the
issuance of various securities.

Morris Weissman, Chairman and Chief Executive of American
Banknote, said the Leigh-Mardon purchase would bring together the
businesses of two of the world's oldest private-sector security
printers.

                              -more-

Page 3
Page 2

"The acquisition of Leigh-Mardon Security will be another
significant step in the continuing growth of our highly
successful international operations and we will use the company
as our base for further expansion into the Australasian markets,"
he said.

"Its diversified operations will allow penetration into various
sectors of the financial areas of these growing economies, from
check printing, electronic printing, financial card
manufacturing, telephone cards and scratch lottery tickets to
electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminals,
driver's license and identification systems."

Mr. Weissman said that, in addition to being the leading security
printer in Australia and having the largest credit card service
bureau in Asia, Leigh-Mardon is the only fully-integrated
national supplier of security products to the Australian and New
Zealand banking sectors.

"It is currently involved in smart card and card reader tests in
Australia and intends to aggressively pursue that line of
business," he said.

American Banknote has obtained financing commitments from a
banking syndicate arranged and managed by Bankers Trust Australia
Limited.  BT Corporate Finance Limited has advised American
Banknote in relation to the acquisition.

American Banknote, through its subsidiaries in Brazil and the
United States, produces a variety of security printed products,
including financial payment and pre-paid telephone cards, foreign
currency, food coupons, stock and bond certificates, travelers
checques, passports, personal checks and treasury checks. 
Through its American Banknote Holographics subsidiary, the
Company also is the world's leading producer of holograms for
security applications, including those on VISA, MasterCard,
Discover and Europay financial cards.

Contact:  Morris Weissman                  Roy Winnick/Jim Fingeroth
          Chief Executive Officer          Kekst and Company
          American Banknote Corporation     (212) 593-2655
         (212) 557-9100

Page 4