You’re staring at a checkout screen or a flight booking page and there it is: GBP. Maybe you’re used to seeing the curly £ symbol, or perhaps you’re wondering why your banking app suddenly started using three letters instead of that iconic mark. Honestly, it’s one of those things we use every day without really thinking about where it came from or why we have two different ways to talk about the same money.
What is the sign for GBP? Simply put, it’s the pound sign (£). But there is a huge difference between how a cashier uses that sign and how a high-frequency trader in London or New York uses the code.
The Roman Roots of the Pound Sign
Most people think the £ sign is just a fancy "E" for England. It’s not. It’s actually a very stylized, cursive letter L.
Wait, why L? Because of the Romans.
Back in the day, the Roman Empire used a unit of weight called the libra. When the British currency system started taking shape over a thousand years ago, they tied the value of money to a literal pound of silver. In Latin, that was libra pondo. The "L" stands for libra.
If you look at old manuscripts from the 1600s—specifically a cheque from 1660 held by the Bank of England—you can see the horizontal bar (the "crossbar") was already being used to show it was a currency symbol and not just a letter. Sometimes you’ll see it with two bars (₤), which was super common in Italy for the Lira before they switched to the Euro. Nowadays, the single-bar £ is the gold standard for the British pound sterling.
GBP vs. £: When to Use Which?
You’ve probably noticed that your bank statement might say "Balance: GBP 1,200.00" while a menu at a pub says "Fish and Chips: £15."
💡 You might also like: CEO of Nvidia Net Worth: What Most People Get Wrong About Jensen Huang’s Wealth
This isn't just a style choice. GBP is an ISO 4217 code. It’s the international standard used by banks and businesses to make sure there is zero confusion between different countries.
- GB stands for Great Britain.
- P stands for Pound.
It matters because there are actually several other "pounds" in the world. Egypt has a pound (EGP), Lebanon has a pound (LBP), and Sudan has a pound (SDG). If you just wrote "£" on an international wire transfer, the bank might not know which one you mean. GBP clears that up instantly.
The "Quid" and "Sterling" Confusion
In the UK, you’ll hear people call it a "quid." That’s just slang, sort of like calling a dollar a "buck." But then there’s the term Sterling.
Technically, the currency is called Pound Sterling. The word "sterling" likely comes from "steorra," an Old English word for star, because some early Norman coins had little stars on them. Or it might refer to "Easterlings," which were North German merchants famous for the purity of their silver. Either way, "sterling" is the name of the currency, while "pound" is the unit.
You’d say "I have five pounds," but you’d never say "I have five sterlings." That just sounds weird.
How to Type the Sign for GBP on Any Device
It’s surprisingly annoying to find the pound sign if you aren’t using a UK-configured keyboard. If you’re in the US or elsewhere, you might feel like you’re hunting for a ghost.
On a Mac, it’s usually pretty easy: just hit Option + 3.
On a Windows PC with a US keyboard, it’s a bit more of a workout. You have to hold down the Alt key and type 0163 on your number pad. If you don't have a number pad, you’re basically stuck copying and pasting it from Google.
For iPhone and Android users, it’s hidden. You usually have to go to your numbers keyboard, then long-press the dollar sign ($). A little menu will pop up with the pound, euro, and yen signs.
💡 You might also like: Interest Rate Today: What Most People Get Wrong About Borrowing Now
The Placement Rule
One thing that trips up travelers: where do you put the sign?
In English-speaking countries, the sign always goes before the number. It’s £50, never 50£. And don't put a space in there. It’s not £ 50; it’s just £50. If you’re writing about pence (the "cents" of the pound), you put a small p after the number, like 50p.
But you never use both at once. You wouldn’t write £0.50p. That’s like saying "zero dollars and fifty cents cents." Just pick one: £0.50 or 50p.
Trading "Cable" and GBX
If you ever get into the world of stock trading or Forex, the sign for GBP gets even weirder.
Traders often refer to the GBP/USD exchange rate as "Cable." This is a throwback to the 19th century when the exchange rate was transmitted across the Atlantic via a giant telegraph cable on the ocean floor. Even in 2026, if you’re talking to a currency broker, they’ll ask, "Where is Cable trading today?"
Then there is GBX. You might see this on the London Stock Exchange. It stands for Pence Sterling. Because many UK stocks are worth very little per share, they are priced in pence rather than pounds to avoid having too many decimal points. If a stock is listed at 150 GBX, it means it costs £1.50.
Practical Tips for Your Next Trip
If you’re traveling to the UK, or just buying something from a British website, keep these things in mind:
- DCC is a Trap: When a card machine asks if you want to pay in "Your Home Currency" or "Local Currency (GBP)," always pick GBP. If you pick your home currency, the merchant’s bank chooses the exchange rate, and they usually give you a terrible deal.
- The Sign is Universal, the Cash is Not: While the £ sign is used across the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own banknotes. They are still GBP and they are still worth the same, but some shops in London might be hesitant to take a Scottish note. It's annoying, but it's legal currency.
- Check the Symbol on Websites: Sometimes a scammy website will use the £ sign but then charge you in a different currency at checkout. Always look for "GBP" in the final confirmation to be sure.
Understanding the sign for GBP is really about understanding the history of global trade. From Roman scales to high-speed fiber-optic cables, this little "L" with a line through it has outlasted empires.
If you're dealing with international contracts or just sending money to a friend in London, stick to GBP for the paperwork and £ for the casual stuff. It’ll save you a lot of headaches at the bank.
💡 You might also like: Finding Your Way Around the Rite Aid Elm St Locations: Why the Pharmacy Scene is Shifting
Next Steps for You:
If you need to move money internationally, check if your bank uses the mid-market rate for GBP conversions. Most big banks hide a 3% fee in the "spread" (the difference between the buying and selling price). Using a dedicated currency service can often save you enough for a few pints at a London pub.