Fossil "Apex" Fetches Highest Price Ever at Auction
A Stegosaurus skeleton nicknamed "Apex" has become the most expensive fossil ever sold at auction, fetching a staggering $44.6 million in New York City. The fossil was acquired by an anonymous buyer after attracting seven bidders, according to Sotheby's, the auction house that handled the sale.
A Rare and Well-Preserved Specimen
"Apex" surpassed the pre-auction estimate of $4 to $6 million. The fossil was discovered on private land in Moffat County, Colorado by paleontologist Jason Cooper in 2022. Its exceptional preservation within hardened sandstone protected the bones from deformation.
Standing at 3.35 meters tall and stretching nearly 8.23 meters from head to tail, "Apex" comprises 254 fossilized bones, signifying a large and powerful individual.
Controversy Surrounds the Sale
Despite the significant commercial demand for "Apex," some paleontologists argue that such fossils should be displayed in museums instead of being sold to private collectors.
Professor Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, highlights the importance of "Apex" as a fossil, particularly since there are fewer well-preserved Stegosaurus skeletons compared to other renowned dinosaurs like the T-Rex and Triceratops.
"It is a shame that a fossil like this, which could educate and inspire so many people, will disappear into the private mansion of a billionaire," Brusatte lamented, expressing hope that those with the financial means to purchase such fossils would consider donating them to museums.
A Promise to Share "Apex"
Sotheby's revealed that the buyer of "Apex" plans to lend the fossil to a US institution. The anonymous buyer stated, "Apex was born in America and will stay in America."
This isn't the first instance of dinosaur fossils being auctioned to commercial collectors. In 1997, Sotheby's sold "Sue," a T-Rex skeleton, for $8.4 million. In 2020, another T-Rex skeleton named "Stan" fetched a record-breaking $31.8 million.
Summary
A Stegosaurus skeleton named "Apex" has been sold for a record-breaking $44.6 million, raising concerns about the accessibility of such important fossils to the public. While the buyer plans to lend the fossil to a US institution, some paleontologists advocate for keeping these treasures in museums where they can be studied and appreciated by all. This sale further emphasizes the high commercial value of dinosaur fossils and the ongoing debate surrounding their ownership.