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Stegosaurus skeleton named 'Apex' auctioned off for record $44.6M
By Sheri Walsh,
1 day ago
July 17 (UPI) -- A Stegosaurus that lived up to 161 million years ago and has been named "Apex" broke records Wednesday after its fossilized skeleton sold for nearly $45 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York.
"Apex" the 161-million-year-old Stegosaurus, the most complete and well-preserved specimen of its size ever discovered, sold at auction in New York City for a record $44.6 million, Sotheby's announced Wednesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
"'Apex' lived up to its name today, inspiring bidders globally to become the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction," Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's global head of science and popular culture said in a statement .
"The finest Stegosaurus specimen ever found -- named 'APEX' -- sold today at Sotheby's New York for a record-breaking $44.6 million, making it the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction," Sotheby's announced Wednesday in a post on X.
#AuctionUpdate : The finest Stegosaurus specimen ever found-named "APEX"-sold today at Sotheby's New York for a record-breaking $44.6 million, making it the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction.
"Apex," a Stegosaurus that lived up to 161 million years ago, broke records Wednesday after its fossilized skeleton sold for nearly $45 million at Sotheby’s in New York. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
The fossil from the Late Jurassic period was expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million but far exceeded expectations, breaking the previous record set by a Tyrannosaurus skeleton named "Stan," which sold in 2020 for nearly $32 million.
"Apex" the 161-million-year-old Stegosaurus, which is the most complete and well-preserved specimen of its size ever discovered, has sold at auction at Sotheby's in New York for nearly $45 million, a record. The fossil had been expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Sotheby's said the Stegosaurus skeleton, which is anatomically correct and was mounted in an aggressive attack pose to be exhibition-ready, is "virtually complete" with 254 of its 319 bones accounted for. It measures 11-feet tall and nearly 27-feet long from nose to tail.
"The specimen was meticulously prepared to the highest standards, showcasing the fossils' natural beauty and preserving important contextual information, including fossilized skin impressions and three ossicles (throat armor), which are offered along with the specimen," Sotheby's added.
"Apex" the 161-million-year-old Stegosaurus, which measures 27-feet long, has sold for a record $44.6 million, Sotheby's auction house in New York announced Wednesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
"Apex" was discovered in May 2022 on a private ranch in Dinosaur, Colo.
"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," Hatton added, as she referenced the paleontologist who discovered the Stegosaurus.
Sotheby's has not revealed any information about the buyer.
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