A wire mesh sculpture with dollar bills spelling out the word "honesty" has been stolen from an art gallery at a Minnesota college.

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The piece by John Ilg had been on display for weeks at Normandale Community College without anyone taking any of the bills, the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported Friday. In fact, when it was shown at the Minnesota State Fair in 2008, members of the public kept adding bills.

A student at the college in Bloomington discovered the theft Tuesday evening. Police found a trail of footprints in the snow leading from the museum to the parking lot and seven rolled-up dollar bills there.

Ilg, a Woodbury, Minn., resident, said he rolled the bills so the words "In God We Trust" are always visible, which means he can also find out if anyone has been messing with the work.

"People like to tug on the bills to see if they're glued in and if I'm really trusting them," he said.

Ilg was philosophical about the loss and said he may redo the work.

"All you can do is laugh," he said.