I've often wondered, but never had the nerve to try it: If you wrote the word 'quid' instead of 'pounds' on a cheque, would the bank still accept it? I know banks can tend to get a bit spiky about that sort of thing - maybe it would just be down to who was dealing with it, and whether or not they had a sense of humour, or were a jobsworth? Anybody know?
When I worked in a bank many years ago we used to read out the words written on every cheque to check that they were correct. We'd also check that there was a payee, the date was correct, that the words and figures agreed and that there was a signature. If we'd come across a cheque using the word quid we'd probably have had to refer it to one of the sub-managers to see if it would be allowed. I'm pretty sure they don't check all cheques these days so you might get away with it without it.
I used to write xheques with 'quid' on them and make them out to my friends with nicknames or abuse on them and they never had a peoblem cashing them. E.g.-