why are pounds called quid 
there doesn t seem to be a definitive answer similar to the dollar being referred to as buck some believe it originates from quid pro quo latin for something for something while others think it came from quidhampton where there was once a royal paper mill the bottom linethe gbp or british pound sterling is the official currency of the united kingdom the gbp is the oldest currency in the world that is still used as legal tender symbolized by the pound sign the gbp has one of the highest trading volumes in the world 