===========================================================================




                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



      Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): August 31, 1999



                          AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                                    DELAWARE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

       1-3410                                          13-0460520
------------------------------          -----------------------------------
 (Commission File Number)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

  410 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.                     10022-4407
------------------------------------    -----------------------------------
 (Address of Principal Executive Office)               (Zip Code)

                               (212) 593-5700
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




============================================================================



Item 5.   Other Events

     The information set forth in the press release issued by American
Banknote Corporation, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, is incorporated
herein by reference.


Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c)  Exhibits
     99.1 Press release of American Banknote Corporation dated
          August 31, 1999.


                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION



                                            By:   s/Patrick D. Reddy
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Patrick D. Reddy,
                                                Vice President




Date: August 31, 1999












                                        2

                                    EXHIBIT INDEX


Item No.

99.1 Press release of American Banknote Corporation dated August 31, 1999.









































                                        3
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2985}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORP", "cik": "0000051124", "assigned-sic": "2750", "irs-number": "130460520", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-03410", "film-number": "99704893"}, "business-address": {"street1": "410 PARK AVENUE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10022-4407", "phone": "2125935700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "410 PARK AVENUE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10022-4407"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORP /DE/", "date-changed": "19950706"}, {"former-conformed-name": "UNITED STATES BANKNOTE CORP /DE/", "date-changed": "19931004"}, {"former-conformed-name": "UNITED STATES BANKNOTE CORP /NY/", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
===========================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

      Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): August 31, 1999

                          AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

       1-3410                                          13-0460520
------------------------------          -----------------------------------
 (Commission File Number)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

  410 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.                     10022-4407
------------------------------------    -----------------------------------
 (Address of Principal Executive Office)               (Zip Code)

                               (212) 593-5700
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

============================================================================

Item 5.   Other Events

     The information set forth in the press release issued by American
Banknote Corporation, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c)  Exhibits
     99.1 Press release of American Banknote Corporation dated
          August 31, 1999.

                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION

                                            By:   s/Patrick D. Reddy
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Patrick D. Reddy,
                                                Vice President

Date: August 31, 1999

                                        2

                                    EXHIBIT INDEX

Item No.

99.1 Press release of American Banknote Corporation dated August 31, 1999.

                                        3