Gibraltar Pound Symbol (£)
The Gibraltar Pound (£) is the official currency of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Issued by the Government of Gibraltar under the Currency Notes Act, it operates under a currency board pegged at a strict 1:1 parity with the British Pound Sterling (GBP).
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Gibraltar Pound.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | £ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Unicode Code Point | U+00A3 | POUND SIGN (Latin-1 Supplement) | |
| Windows Input / Alt Code | Alt + 0163 | Keyboard shortcut for Windows PC | |
| HTML Named / Decimal Entity | £ | HTML5 named character entity | |
| HTML Hex Entity | £ | Hexadecimal HTML character reference | |
| CSS Escape Code | \00A3 | For CSS ::before or ::after pseudo-elements |
How to Type Gibraltar Pound Symbol (£) on Any Device
Windows PC
Hold the Alt key and type 0163 on the numeric keypad.
Mac / macOS
Press Option + 3 on your macOS keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Tap 123, long-press $ and select £
Android (Gboard)
Tap ?123, long-press $ and select £
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Gibraltar Pound symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
The Gibraltar Pound uses the standard pound sign (£, U+00A3) positioned before the amount (£50.00). In international currency trading and exchange bureaus, it has its own dedicated ISO 4217 code, GIP. Bank of England banknotes are universally accepted in Gibraltar alongside local GIP notes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming Gibraltar pounds circulate freely in the UK (UK merchants and banks are not legally required to accept GIP notes, though they can be exchanged).
- Confusing GIP with GBP (GIP is pegged 1:1 but is a distinct legal currency issue).
- Using an invented symbol (Gibraltar uses the standard £ sign).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
Until 1872, the currency situation in Gibraltar was complex, with Spanish dollars and British sterling circulating concurrently. In 1898, the British pound was made the sole legal tender. In 1927, the Government of Gibraltar began issuing its own government banknotes, and in 1988 issued its own coins. Under Gibraltar law, the Government of Gibraltar is required to back all issued Gibraltar notes with equivalent sterling balances held with the Bank of England.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using £
Related Tools & Guides for Gibraltar Pound
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Pound Currencies (£) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Gibraltar Pound (£)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Is the Gibraltar Pound equal to the British Pound?
Yes. By Gibraltar statute, the Gibraltar Pound is pegged at a strict 1:1 parity with the British Pound Sterling (GBP).
Can you spend Gibraltar pounds in the United Kingdom?
Gibraltar pounds are not legal tender in the UK. While some UK banks and bureau de change will exchange them for Bank of England notes, British high street merchants are not obliged to accept them.
What is the ISO code for Gibraltar Pound?
The ISO 4217 code is GIP (numeric 292).