The largest and most complete stegosaurus fossil ever discovered sold for $44.6 million at Sotheby’s in New York on Wednesday to become the most valuable fossil sold at auction.
The dinosaur remains, nicknamed “Apex”, exceeded its low pre-sale estimate by more than 11 times.
It was discovered in 2022 by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper at his property on privately owned land in Moffat County, Colorado, conveniently near the town of Dinosaur.
“Apex” measures 3.4 meters (11 feet) long and 8.2 meters (27 feet) long from nose to tail, more than 30% larger than “Sophie”, the previously most intact stegosaurus specimen, which is on display at London’s Natural History Museum Museum to see was.
It was sold to an anonymous buyer who intends to loan the specimen to an American institution. After the sale, the buyer remarked, “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 worldwide 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 at every turn, from the moment of its discovery in Dinosaur, Colorado, to its sale in New York.
“I am delighted 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.”
“Apex” ranks high among the most complete skeletons ever found, with 254 fossil bone elements out of an approximate total of 319.
The skeleton belonged to a large, robust adult and there was evidence of rheumatoid arthritis, indicating that it lived to an advanced age, according to Sotheby’s.
The specimen showed no signs of combat-related injuries or evidence of post-mortem flushing.
It was preserved in hard sandstone, which protected the bones from distortion.
“Apex” was the star attraction of Sotheby’s natural history auction, with other lots including meteorites, minerals, gogottes and, for the first time, Paleolithic tools.
The auction made a total of $45.8m (£35.2m), the highest total ever for a natural history auction.
