The largest and most complete stegosaurus fossil ever found sold for $44.6 million at Sotheby’s in New York on Wednesday, making it the most expensive fossil ever sold at auction.
The dinosaur fossil, nicknamed “Apex,” exceeded its lowest pre-sale estimate by more than 11 times.
The fossil was discovered on private land near the town of Dinosaur in Moffat County, Colorado, by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper on his land in 2022.
““Apex” is 3.4 metres (11 feet) tall and 8.2 metres (27 feet) long from nose to tail, more than 30 percent larger than “Sophie,” the most complete stegosaurus specimen ever to be exhibited at London’s Natural History Museum.
The specimen was sold to an anonymous buyer, who is also considering loaning it to an institution in the U.S. After the sale, the buyer stated, “Apex was born in America and will stay in America!”
Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture, said: “‘Apex’ lived up to its name today, inspiring bidders from around the world to become the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction.”
“This sale has been years in the making and we have worked closely with Jason Cooper every step of the way, from the discovery in Dinosaur, Colorado, to the sale in New York.
“After 150 million years of roaming the Earth, we are thrilled that such an important specimen has made its mark on history. This incredible achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to preserving these ancient treasures.”
““Apex” is one of the most complete skeletons ever discovered, with 254 of an estimated total of 319 bones remaining.
Sotheby’s said the skeleton belonged to a large, robust adult with signs of rheumatoid arthritis, indicating that he lived to a very advanced age.
The specimen showed no signs of battle injuries or post-mortem scavenging.
Preservation in hard sandstone prevented the bones from becoming misshapen.
““Apex” was the centerpiece of Sotheby’s natural history auction, along with other lots including meteorites, minerals, gogots and, for the first time, Paleolithic tools.
The total auction price was $45.8 million (£35.2 million), the highest ever for a natural history auction.
