In a historic auction held at Sotheby’s in New York on Wednesday, the largest and most complete stegosaurus fossil ever unearthed sold for a staggering $44.6 million, setting a new benchmark as the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction.
Discovered on private land in Moffat County, Colorado, near the town of Dinosaur, the dinosaur remains, affectionately nicknamed “Apex”, surpassed its pre-sale estimate by more than 11 times. The excavation was led by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper at his property in 2022.
Standing at 3.4 meters (11 feet) tall and stretching 8.2 meters (27 feet) from nose to tail, “Apex” is over 30% larger than “Sophie,” the previously most intact stegosaurus specimen displayed at London’s Natural History Museum.
The fossil was acquired by an anonymous buyer, who expressed intentions to loan the specimen to a U.S. institution. Following the purchase, the buyer emphasized, “Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America!
Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture, reflected on the momentous sale: “‘Apex’ lived up to its name today, inspiring bidders globally to become the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. This sale has been years in the making, and at every turn, we have worked closely with Jason Cooper, from the moment of its discovery in Dinosaur, Colorado, to its sale in New York.”
She continued, “I am thrilled that such an important specimen has now taken its place in history, 150 million years since it roamed the planet. This remarkable result underscores our unwavering commitment to preserving these ancient treasures.”
The skeleton of “Apex” is one of the most complete ever found, boasting 254 fossil bone elements out of an estimated total of 319. According to Sotheby’s, the specimen belonged to a large, robust adult, with evidence of rheumatoid arthritis suggesting it lived to an advanced age. Remarkably, there were no signs of combat-related injuries or postmortem scavenging, owing to its preservation in hard sandstone that protected the bones from distortion.
“Apex” took center stage at Sotheby’s natural history auction, which also featured meteorites, minerals, gogottes, and, for the first time, Paleolithic tools. The event amassed a total of $45.8 million (£35.2 million), marking the highest ever sales figure for a natural history auction.
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