The Record-Breaking Sale of Stegosaurus “Apex” at Sotheby’s
In a historic auction event, Sotheby’s auction house sold the remains of a Stegosaurus named Apex for a staggering $45 million. Billed as “the finest Stegosaurus on the market,” this exceptional specimen far exceeded the auction house’s initial estimate of $4 million to $6 million. The sale of Apex broke records and captured the attention of bidders worldwide, ultimately making it the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction.
The Unveiling of Apex
Unveiled in a dramatic event, the iconic skeleton of Apex stands approximately 11 feet tall and nearly 27 feet long, mounted on a custom steel frame in an aggressive attack stance. The fossil, estimated to be around 161 million years old, was excavated between 2022 and 2023 on private land near the town of Dinosaur in Moffat County, Colorado. The skeleton remains virtually intact, showcasing remarkable details of the prehistoric creature, including signs of arthritis that indicate a long life.
A Historic Moment in Paleontological Auctions
The sale of Apex marks a significant moment in the history of paleontological auctions, surpassing previous records set by other dinosaur fossils. In 1997, a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil sold for $8.4 million, followed by another T. rex skeleton in 2020 that sold for $32 million. In 2022, Sotheby’s auctioned a human dragon skeleton for over $6 million. The interest and value placed on these fossils reflect a deep fascination with the world of paleontology and natural history.
The Legacy of Apex
As Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture, Cassandra Hatton, remarked, the sale of Apex has been years in the making, from its discovery in Colorado to the final auction in New York. The anonymous buyer of the fossil remains a mystery, but the impact of this sale will resonate throughout the world of paleontology and beyond. Apex’s legacy as the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction solidifies its place in history as a rare and extraordinary specimen.
