GBP USD (British Pound / US Dollar) GBPUSD, often referred to as “The Cable”, a foreign exchange term used to describe the British pound vs the US dollar, is one of the oldest traded currency pairs. In July of 1866, after an earlier failed attempt, the first reliable exchange rate between the British pound and the US dollar was transmitted between the London and New York Exchanges. GBP USD (British Pound / US Dollar) GBPUSD, often referred to as “The Cable”, a foreign exchange term used to describe the British pound vs the US dollar, is one of the oldest traded currency pairs. In July of 1866, after an earlier failed attempt, the first reliable exchange rate between the British pound and the US dollar was transmitted between the London and New York Exchanges. Pound Dollar Exchange Rate (GBP USD) - Historical Chart. Interactive historical chart showing the daily British Pound - U.S. Dollar (GBPUSD) exchange rate back to 1971.