Record-Breaking $44.6M Sale for Dinosaur Skeleton in US

Dinosaur skeleton shatters records, Sells for $44.6M...

Rare Stegosaurus skeleton 'Apex' sells for record-breaking $44.6 million at New York auction, surpassing previous records and cementing its place in history as one of the most significant dinosaur discoveries ever made.

A rare and remarkable Stegosaurus skeleton, nicknamed Apex, has been sold at a New York auction for a staggering $44.6 million, shattering previous records. Estimated to be an astonishing 150 million years old, Apex is considered one of the most complete and well-preserved skeletons ever discovered, making it a truly unique and valuable find.

This massive skeleton stands an impressive 11 feet tall and 27 feet long, comprising 254 fossil bones, which is approximately 80 percent of the total number of bones in the skeleton. The previous record for a dinosaur skeleton sold at auction was $31.8 million, set in 2020 for a T-Rex nicknamed “Stan”, which Apex has now surpassed by a significant margin.

Sotheby's auction house initially estimated that Apex would sell for between $4 million and $6 million, but the price skyrocketed as phone bidders fiercely competed, driving up the amount. The auction room was electric with excitement, with gasps and applause erupting as the price continued to climb.

The remarkable skeleton was discovered in May 2022 on land owned by paleontologist Jason Cooper, and its sale has sent shockwaves through the scientific and collecting communities. The new owner of Apex remains anonymous, but the sale has cemented the skeleton's place in history as one of the most significant and valuable dinosaur discoveries ever made.

Sotheby's collaborated with paleontologist Jason Cooper to meticulously document every stage of the process, from the initial discovery and excavation to the restoration and display of the Apex skeleton. This rigorous documentation ensures that the entire process was conducted to the highest standards and with complete transparency.

In contrast, Christie's was forced to cancel the sale of a T-Rex skeleton in Hong Kong in 2022, just days before the auction, due to concerns about its authenticity. However, Sotheby's successfully sold the Apex skeleton on Wednesday, July 17, marking a significant milestone in the growing trend of selling dinosaur remains. This sale demonstrates the importance of rigorous documentation and transparency in the sale of rare and valuable scientific artifacts.

According to Sotheby's, the Apex skeleton surpasses the size of the most complete Stegosaurus skeleton on public display, Sophie, housed in London's Natural History Museum, by a significant 30 percent, making it the largest and most impressive Stegosaurus skeleton ever discovered.