Monument to Inventor of the Dollar Sign

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

This overly arty, big bronze rendering of Oliver Pollock's head was sculpted by Baton Rouge artist Frank Hayden. It was meant to be unveiled as part of Baton Rouge's 1976 American Bicentennial celebration, but the city didn't get around to installing it until 1979. Pollock appears to be framed by luxuriant, flowing hair, and has the gaping mouth of a dead fish.

Pollock was a wealthy New Orleans merchant and financier whose connections with local Spanish officials enabled him to ship supplies to Baton Rouge at bargain prices. He helped finance the American Revolution, which is why the city thought of him as a Bicentennial hero (even though Baton Rouge wasn't part of the U.S. until 1803). He also supposedly invented the dollar sign in 1778, although you'd never guess it from looking at this odd monument.