[pwinnski]

That will usually work in the US, but Shift-3 returns £ on keyboards configured for the UK!

[kbelder]

Is that related in any way to the fact that both symbols can be referred to as a 'pound' symbol, or is it a complete coincidence?

[veltas]

I believe it is related to them both being called 'pound', and it is very annoying. The two are not the same symbol, I don't know why they equivocated them. Technically in a distant root they are related, but they are distinct in usage and meaning.