The largest reconstructed skeleton of a Stegosaurus, named "Apex," was sold for a record price of $44.6 million at an auction held by Sotheby's in New York on Wednesday, as announced by the auction house. "Apex," which dates back 150 million years, is considered "one of the most complete skeletons discovered to date," according to Sotheby's.
The skeleton, which stands 3.3 meters tall, consists of 254 fossilized bones out of a total of 319. Sotheby's had estimated the skeleton's price between $4 to $6 million, but the price quickly escalated as remote bidders rushed to participate in the auction, resulting in astonishment and applause in the auction hall. Sotheby's did not disclose the name of the buyer who acquired "Apex."
The previous record was $31.8 million, achieved in 2020 in New York for the sale of a Tyrannosaurus rex named "Stan." The skeleton of "Apex" was discovered in May 2022 on land owned by the renowned paleontologist Jason Cooper, and Sotheby's says it worked with him from the beginning to organize this auction, ensuring "transparency," as stated by the company.
In 2022, Christie's auction house canceled the sale of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in Hong Kong due to concerns about the authenticity of the fossil. These auctions have doubled in recent years, sparking debate and frustration among paleontologists who believe that selling such skeletons reduces the chances of exhibiting them in museums and making them available for scientific research.
Various Stegosaurus skeletons are exhibited around the world, but "Apex" is 30% larger than "Sophie," the most complete skeleton currently displayed to the public at the Natural History Museum in London.
