The skeleton of a Stegosaurus dinosaur nicknamed Apex was auctioned in New York on Wednesday for US$44.6 million, multiplying its estimated price and becoming the most valuable fossil in history, according to Sotheby’s.
Apex, which measures about 3 meters high and 6 meters long, was discovered two years ago in the state of Colorado (United States) and was offered by the house between 4 and 6 million dollars as the “best specimen” of this recognizable dinosaur that lived 150 million years ago, at the end of the Jurassic.
Sotheby’s said the buyer of Apex is anonymous but is considering lending the skeleton to “an American institution” and after winning the bidding battle after about 15 minutes, he declared: “Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America”.
The Apex skeleton, one of the most complete and best preserved of a dinosaur, surpassed the milestone achieved by Stan, a complete Tyrannosaurus Rex that sold in 2020 for 31.8 million at Christie’s, thus continuing the upward trend in interest and price of these fossils at auctions.
Sotheby’s, which sold the first dinosaur skeleton at auction in 1997 for $8.4 million, was involved in the entire process from paleontologist Jason Cooper’s discovery of Apex to today’s sale, marking the first such partnership.
The firm said its specialist Cassandra Hatton has documented the process, including excavation, restoration and “conservation of contextual information such as fossilized skin impressions and three ‘bones’ (throat armour)” that were sold along with the skeleton.
Apex has no signs of combat or damage caused by predators, but evidence of arthritis, indicating that she reached an advanced age, according to a statement describing her “superb fossilization” that preserved “delicate bones” such as fragile cervical dermal plates.
What has not been determined, according to the New York Times, is Apex’s gender, which may explain the asexual name it has been given.
Christie’s recently sold the complete skeleton of a Gorgosaurus, a relative of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, for more than $6 million, and also sold a skull of the king predator for a similar price, while rival auction house Christie’s has fetched higher sums.
At Christie’s, which held the record until now, a Deinonychus dinosaur skeleton sold this year for 12.4 million, although this is below the record for a fossil.
Source: Gestion
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