The largest and most complete stegosaurus fossil ever found will be the centrepiece of Sotheby’s Geek Week auction this summer, and is expected to fetch up to $6 million (£4.7 million).
Nicknamed “Apex,” the “nearly complete” fossil, measuring more than 11 feet tall and 20 feet long, is more than 30 percent larger than “Sophie,” the most complete stegosaurus specimen ever to be exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London.
Cassandra Hatton, global head of science at Sotheby’s, said: “Apex is one of the finest fossils of its kind ever unearthed and marks a hugely significant milestone.”
“Stegosaurus is one of the most widely known dinosaurs, and its unmistakable silhouette has fascinated and amazed people for generations. Through its careful process of excavation, preparation and installation, Apex sets a new standard for all future discoveries of this magnitude, further reinforcing the enduring fascination of stegosaurus and its proud place in popular culture.”
With an estimated price of $4 million to $6 million, it could be one of the most expensive dinosaur fossils ever sold at auction — the previous record was held by “Stan,” a T. rex skeleton that sold for $31.8 million at Christie’s in 2020.
But the dinosaur auction market was thrown into crisis in 2022, when Christie’s was forced to cancel a £20 million sale of another Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, “Shen,” just days before it was due to go on sale after a leading paleontologist expressed concern that parts of “Shen” looked too similar to Stan.
Apex was discovered by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper. Morrison FormationMoffat County, Colorado Dinosaur TownMay 2022.
Sotheby’s said it “worked closely” with Cooper to document the entire process, from discovery to excavation, restoration, preparation and installation, “ensuring that the specimen was documented and sold with the highest standards and transparency.” Ahead of its auction on July 17, Apex will be on display at Sotheby’s New York gallery.
Stegosaurus is the best known species of armored dinosaur (Carassius), and is characterized by the unique shape and arrangement of skin armor on its back that stretches from its neck to its tail.
The Apex fossil “shows no signs of combat or predation injuries, but evidence of arthritis suggests it lived to a very advanced age,” the authors write, adding that “the femur was an astonishing 45 inches long.”
Sotheby’s said Cooper, founder of Trilobites of America and co-owner of Dinosaur Corporation, “excavated numerous dinosaur specimens in the United States, many of which are held in institutions around the world, with a significant number donated by Mr. Cooper.”
