£
Pound symbol
The pound symbol (£) represents the British pound sterling and serves as one of the world's most historically significant currency symbols, essential for UK commerce and international finance.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 156
- HTML Entity
- œ
- Hexadecimal
- 0x9C
- Binary
- 10011100
- Octal
- 234
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '£'; // ASCII 156HTML/Web
œ or £Common Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Pound symbol
Historical Significance
As the symbol for the world's oldest currency still in use, the pound symbol represents over 1,200 years of monetary history. It derives from the Latin 'libra pondo' (pound weight), connecting modern finance to ancient Roman measurement systems.
Global Finance
The pound sterling ranks as the fourth most traded currency globally, making the £ symbol crucial for international forex markets, cross-border transactions, and global investment portfolios. It appears in major financial centers worldwide.
Design Evolution
The symbol's distinctive crossed 'L' design has evolved from medieval scribal abbreviations to modern digital typography, maintaining visual consistency while adapting to contemporary financial technology and user interfaces.
Economic Indicator
Beyond representing currency, the £ symbol serves as an economic indicator of British financial strength, Brexit impacts, and UK market conditions, making it significant for global economic analysis and policy decisions.
History of the Pound symbol
Pound Weight Origins
Anglo-Saxon England established the pound as a unit of account based on a pound weight of silver, creating the foundation for the currency that would eventually use the £ symbol.
Sterling Silver Standard
Henry II established sterling silver as the standard for English currency, giving rise to 'pound sterling' and setting the stage for the development of the £ symbol.
Medieval Notation
Medieval scribes began using 'lb' and stylized 'L' symbols to represent libra (pound), gradually developing the crossed-L design that would become the modern £ symbol.
Bank of England
The establishment of the Bank of England formalized pound sterling as Britain's official currency, increasing the use and standardization of the £ symbol in official documents.
Decimal Day
Britain's conversion to decimal currency (100 new pence = £1) modernized the monetary system while maintaining the traditional £ symbol, cementing its role in contemporary finance.
Cultural Impact
The pound symbol became synonymous with British economic power and global trade influence, representing the currency of an empire and continuing as a symbol of financial stability and tradition in modern international markets.
Usage Examples
UK Commerce
ExampleStandard British retail and business transactions
International Finance
ExampleForeign exchange and global investment markets
Banking Systems
ExampleUK banking and financial services notation
Economic Reporting
ExampleMacroeconomic analysis and policy documentation