Stegosaurus Fossil Auctions for $44.6 Million
- A Stegosaurus fossil was sold for an astonishing $44.6 million at a Sotheby's auction.
- The buyer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is based in the United States.
- They plan to explore options for loaning the fossil to a U.S. institution for public display.
NEW YORK — A nearly complete fossilized stegosaurus, known as “Apex,” has set a new auction record by selling for $44.6 million at Sotheby’s on Wednesday. The auction house reported that the buyer, whose identity remains undisclosed, significantly exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $4 million to $6 million. This sale surpasses the previous record for dinosaur fossils, which was held by a Tyrannosaurus rex named Stan, sold for $31.8 million in 2020. Cassandra Hatton, who leads Sotheby’s science-related business, remarked that Apex has now secured its place in history, having existed approximately 150 million years ago. The fossil is noted for its remarkable completeness and well-preserved features, earning it the description of a “coloring book dinosaur.” Standing 11 feet tall and measuring 27 feet from nose to tail, Apex exhibited signs of arthritis, indicating it lived a long life. The auction attracted significant interest, with the anonymous American buyer outbidding six others. However, the sale has sparked frustration among some academic paleontologists, who argue that such specimens should be housed in museums or research institutions that lack the financial means to compete in the auction market. Sotheby’s indicated that the buyer is considering loaning the fossil to a U.S. institution, potentially allowing for public display and research. The fossil was discovered in 2022 by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper on his property near Dinosaur, Colorado, a town located close to Dinosaur National Monument.