List of dinosaur specimens sold at auction

Last updated

Many dinosaur specimens have been sold at auction, as part of the fossil trade. On average, around five dinosaur skeletons are put up for auction each year. [1] These specimens are mostly purchased by wealthy private collectors and museums in Europe and the United States, though interest has been growing in China as well. [1] The private sale of fossils has attracted criticism from paleontologists, as it presents an obstacle to fossils being publicly accessible to research. [2]

Contents

Most countries where relatively complete dinosaur specimens are commonly found have laws against the export of fossils. The United States allows the sale of specimens collected on private property. As such, the majority of dinosaur fossils sold at auction were collected in the United States. [3] However, smuggled specimens, particularly from Mongolia, also appear at auctions, often with falsified information on their source. [4]

This list includes both specimens sold at auction and specimens that were scheduled to be sold at auction that have received news coverage.

Table

Sortable table
Name (Spec #)TaxonReported materialDiscoveryAuctionNotesImagesSource
Auction HouseDateLocationSale price (USD)
OriginalAdjusted [5]
UnidentifiedNest with 10 eggsFound in China Bonhams September 15, 1993London$76,000$160,299Purchaser was an anonymous American buyer. Collector also bought a set of 5 eggs at same auction for $18,750. [6] [7]
Sue [a] (FMNH PR 2081) Tyrannosaurus rex 90% of a skeletonDiscovered August 12, 1990, by Sue Hendrickson in the Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, United States Excavated by Hendrickson and the Black Hills Institute. Sotheby's October 4, 1997New York City$8,362,500 [b] $15,872,108Purchased by and now displayed at the Field Museum of Natural History. Most complete known specimen of Tyrannosaurus, [8] and among the largest. [9] Most expensive fossil sold until the sale of Stan in 2020.
Trex Sue FMNH.jpg
[10]
Barnum Tyrannosaurus rex 20% of a skeletonCollected by Japeth Boyce in Wyoming, United States in 1995 Bonhams May 16, 2004Los Angeles$93,250 [c] $150,422Reported to potentially be the same individual as the first T. rex specimen ever discovered, now at the Natural History Museum, London. [11] [12]
UnidentifiedNest with 22 eggsCollected in Guangdong, China in 1984 Bonhams December 3, 2006Los Angeles$420,000$634,784Sale later cancelled and seized by customs agents. [13] [14]
Tarbosaurus bataar SkullCollected from MongoliaI. M. ChaitMarch 25, 2007New York City$270,000 [d] $396,745Specimen bought by actor Nicolas Cage. Specimen determined to have been illegally exported. Cage surrendered the specimen to authorities for repatriation to Mongolia in 2015 [15] [16] [2] [17]
Triceratops SkullMaynardsJanuary 8, 2009Vancouver$66,500 [e] $94,443Originated from the collection of a Japanese department store. Sold significantly below estimates. [18] [19] [20] [21]
Edmontosaurus $150,000$213,029Originated from the collection of a Japanese department store. Sold significantly below estimates.
Triceratops 80% complete skullCollected in North Dakota, US Bonhams June 1, 2009New York City$242,000$343,687 [22] [23]
Alioramus remotus SkullCollected in "Central Asia" (presumably Mongolia)$206,000$292,560 [22] [24]
Edmontosaurus 90% complete skeletonFound near Ruth Mason Ranch near Faith, South Dakota, US sometime prior to 1991 Bonhams October 3, 2009Las Vegas$458,000$650,450 [25] [26] [27]
Allosaurus SkeletonCollected in Wyoming, US Sotheby's October 5, 2010Paris$1,815,450 [f] $2,536,588Said to originate from an old German collection [28] [29]
Fighting Pair Allosaurus + Stegosaurus Stegosaurus: 75%–80% of a skeleton; incorporates elements of second specimen. Allosaurus: mostly complete, including complete skullCollected in 2007 from Dana Quarry, Wyoming, US Heritage Auctions June 12, 2011Dallas$2,748,000$3,721,995A carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaur preserved together. Purchased by a museum. [30] [31] [32] [33]
Triceratops "Virtually complete" skeleton along with a skullFound in South Dakota, US in 2004, the skull and skeleton were found 750 ft apart, and it is not clear that they belong to the same individual$657,250$890,204Auctioned in the same sale as "Fighting Pair" [32] [34]
Tarbosaurus bataar SkeletonCollected from Mongolia Heritage Auctions May 20, 2012New York City$1,050,000$1,393,506Sale later withdrawn. Subject of the legal case United States v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton and subsequently returned to Mongolia.
Tarbosaurus mounted cast skull (2).jpg
[35] [36]
Misty Diplodocus SkeletonCollected from Dana Quarry, Wyoming, US, in 2009Summers PlaceNovember 27, 2013Billingshurst$652,000 [g] $852,816Purchased by the Natural History Museum of Denmark.
Copenhagen 2015-09-20 (22310469166).jpg
[37] [38] [39] [40]
Freya Hypacrosaurus SkeletonCollected from Montana, USSummers PlaceJune 7, 2016Billingshurst$178,200 [h] $226,234 [41] [42]
Kan Allosaurus SkeletonCollected from Harlan Ranch, Johnson County, Wyoming, US, in 2013 Drouot December 10, 2016Paris$1,155,000 [i] $1,320,078.37Sold to Kleber Rossillon, on display at the Château de Marqueyssac. [43] [44] [45] [46]
Triceratops SkullCollected in Wyoming, US Drouot March 7, 2017Paris$188,000$233,686 [47] [48]
Diplodocus/Kaatedocus [j] SkeletonEastern Big Horn Mountains, Johnson County, Wyoming Drouot April 11, 2018Paris$1,771,200 [k] $1,934,863.91Sold alongside an Allosaurus, both sold to same collector, a Filipino businessman [49] [1] [50] [51]
Allosaurus 60% complete skeleton [52] Eastern Big Horn Mountains, Johnson County, WyomingParis$1,734,300 [l] $1,894,554.25Sold alongside a Diplodocus, both sold to same collector, a Filipino businessman [49] [1] [50] [53]
Allosaurus 70% of a skeletonCollected in 2013 in Wyoming, US Drouot June 4, 2018Paris$2,340,000 [m] $2,556,222.65Potentially represents a new species [54]
Maximus Thescelosaurus 70%–75% of skeleton, including parts of skullCollected in 2018 in the Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, USPiguetSeptember 24, 2019Geneva$226,000 [n] $269,000 [55] [56] [57]
Stan [o] (BHI 3033) Tyrannosaurus rex 70% of a skeleton Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, US Found by Stan Sacrison in 1987, and excavated by the Black Hills Institute in 1992. Christie's October 6, 2020New York City$31,800,000$37,438,704Purchased by the state of Abu Dhabi. [58] Most expensive fossil ever sold until the sale of the Stegosaurus Apex in 2024. Sale did not include rights to reproduction, which were retained by Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. Numerous replicas are exhibited in museums worldwide.
Stan -T.rex fossill and MOR555 - cast by Volkan Yuksel DSC06441 (cropped).jpg
[59]
Allosaurus SkeletonCollected in Wyoming, US in 2016 Drouot October 13, 2020Paris$3,466,000 [p] $3,466,000 [60]
Big John [q] Triceratops 60% of a skeleton, including 75% of skullFound by Walter Stein in May 2014, in the Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, US Excavation complete by August 2015. Drouot October 21, 2021Paris$7,740,000 [r] $7,740,000Purchased by an anonymous American collector. Guinness World Records claimed it was the largest known Triceratops skeleton, [62] with a skull reconstructed to be 2.62 metres (8.6 ft) long. Most expensive Triceratops sold, and most expensive fossil sold in Europe.
Big John triceratops sold at auction in Paris.jpg
[63] [61]
Hector Deinonychus Around 50% of a skeleton with 126 preserved bones, missing all or most of the skullExcavated from Wolf Canyon, Carbon County, Montana, US from sediments of the Cloverly Formation in February 2015 Christie's May 12, 2022New York City$12,412,500$12,412,500Previously displayed at the Natural History Museum of Denmark from 2020-2021
Deinonychus in Copenhagen.jpg
[64] [65] [66] [67]
Gorgosaurus Partial skeleton consisting of 79 elementsExcavated from the sediments of the Judith River Formation in Chouteau County, Montana, US, in 2018 Sotheby's July 28, 2022New York City$6,069,500$6,069,500 [68] [69]
Triceratops SkullExcavated from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, US$661,500$661,500 [70] [69]
Allosaurus Articulated leg and footExcavated from Sutton Quarry in Moffat County, Colorado, US$163,800$163,800 [71] [72]
Zephyr Camptosauridae Partial skeletonFound near Skull Creek in Moffat County, Colorado, US in 2019Giquello & AssociésOctober 20, 2022Paris$660,738$660,738 [73] [74]
Maximus Tyrannosaurus rex SkullExcavated from the Hell Creek Formation in Harding County, South Dakota, US in 2020Sotheby'sDecember 9, 2022New York$6,069,500$6,069,500Sold well below estimate of $15–20 million [75] [76] [77]
293 Trinity Tyrannosaurus rex Composite ~ 50% complete skeleton of 293 bones from three individualsExcavated from several sites in the Hell Creek Formation, Montana and the Lance Formation, Wyoming, US between 2008 and 2013KollerApril 18, 2023Zurich$6,200,000 [s] $6,200,000 [78] [79] [80]
Barry Camptosaurus 80% complete skeleton with a largely complete skullDiscovered around 2000 in sediments of the Morrison Formation in Crook County, Wyoming, United States Drouot October 20, 2023Paris$985,447 [t] $985,447 [81] [82] [83] [84]
Apex Stegosaurus Largely complete skeleton, most complete known skeleton of Stegosaurus.Discovered in 2020 in Moffat County, Colorado, USSotheby'sJuly 17, 2024New York$44,600,000$44,600,000Sold 11 times above pre-sale estimates to American billionaire financier Kenneth Griffin. Most expensive fossil ever sold as of 2024. [85]
Vulcan Apatosaurus 75-80% complete skeletonDiscovered in 2018 in Wyoming, United StatesCollin du Bocage and BarbarossaNovember 16, 2024Paris$6,400,000 [u] $6,400,000 [86]

Specimens planned to be auctioned

Some specimens planned to be auctioned did not sell, due to failing to meet the reserve price, legal challenges, or other obstacles. This list also includes specimens whose planned auction was announced, but for which information on whether it was sold is not available.

Sortable table
Name (Spec #)TaxonMaterialDiscoveryAuctionNotesImagesSource
Auction HouseDateLocation
Z-Rex Tyrannosaurus Found in South Dakota, US in 1992 eBay December 1999N/ADisrupted by prank bidders [87] [88]
Millionaire.comJanuary 2000
Conchoraptor Found in China Guernsey's June 2004New York CityFailed to receive a single bid. [89] [90]
Stygimoloch Largely complete skullNear Gumbo Butte, Montana, USFailed to meet reserve price [90]
Triceratops Found in North Dakota, US, in 2004 Christie's April 2008ParisFailed to meet reserve price, subsequently purchased by an American collector
Triceratops chez Christie's - 15 avril 2008.JPG
[91] [92] [93]
Dryosaurus Found in Wyoming, US in 1993I. M. ChaitMarch 2009New York CityFailed to meet reserve price. Subsequently purchased by businessman John S. Middleton and donated to the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College. Reported to be one of the most complete Dryosaurus specimens.
Beneski Museum of Natural History Dryosaurus altus.jpg
[94] [95] [96] [97]
Samson Tyrannosaurus 55% complete skeletonNear Buffalo, South Dakota, US prior to 1994 Bonhams October 2009Las VegasFailed to meet reserve price at auction, subsequently purchased by an undisclosed buyer
Samson Tyrannosaurus.jpg
[25] [98] [99]
Prosaurolophus Skeleton with mummified skin Sotheby's October 2011ParisFailed to meet reserve price
Prosaurolophus maximus1.JPG
[100] [101] [102]
CLOVER Le Combattant Tenontosaurus Largely complete skeletonMontana, US in 2008
Tenontosaure1.JPG
[100] [103] [101] [102]
Suuwassea
Suuwassea.jpg
[100]
Triceratops Skull [100]
Dueling Dinosaurs Tyrannosaurus + Triceratops Montana, US, in 2006 Bonhams November 2013New York CityFailed to meet reserve price [104]
Dragon KingTriceratops95% complete skull Montana, US First spotted by landowner Ray Novakovich in 1992, but not excavated until 2003.Evolved LTD2015Hong KongReported in 2015 to be largest known Triceratops skull, at 2.8 metres (9.2 ft) long. Unclear if the specimen was sold. [105] [106]
Little Al Allosaurus Juvenile skeletonWyoming, US, in 2009Summers PlaceNovember 2015BillingshurstFailed to meet reserve price [40] [107] [108]
Stegosaurus Wyoming, US, in 2010 Auctionata June 2016BerlinFailed to meet reserve price [109]
Allosaurus 55% of a skeletonFound in the United States Artcurial November 2018ParisFailed to meet reserve price [110] [111] [112]
Camptosaurus 90% complete Wyoming, USFailed to meet reserve price [110] [111] [112]
Ornitholestes + Othnielia Two skeletons mounted in a combat poseJohnson County, Wyoming, US Drouot April 2019ParisFailed to meet reserve price [113] [114] [115]
Hypacrosaurus Adult and juvenile skeletonGlacier County, Montana, US [113] [116] [115]
Skinny Diplodocidae 90% of skeleton, with preserved patches of skin Wyoming, US in 2012 Drouot June 2019ParisPotentially a new species. Displayed in Heathrow Airport in April–May 2019, prior to auction. Failed to meet reserve price. [117] [118]
Diplodocus Dana Quarry, Wyoming, US in 2008Emirates AuctionAugust–September 2019DubaiOriginally at The Dubai Mall, no bidders
Dubai Mall Dinosaur.jpg
[119] [120]
Shen Tyrannosaurus Partial skeleton with 80 bonesExcavated in Montana, US in 2020 from sediments of the Hell Creek Formation Christie's November 2022Hong KongSale cancelled after it became known that the casts used to replace missing bones were based on those of Stan, which is the intellectual property of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research [121] [122]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Named in honor of the discoverer
  2. ↑ Price includes buyer's premium, winning bid of $7,600,000
  3. ↑ Price includes buyer's premium, winning bid of $80,000
  4. ↑ Includes buyer's premium; winning bid was $230,000
  5. ↑ $70,000 Canadian dollars, reported as $60,000 USD in US sources.
  6. ↑ €1,296,750
  7. ↑ £400,000
  8. ↑ £132,000 inc. buyers premium
  9. ↑ €1.1m
  10. ↑ Stated to be a Kaatedocus specimen in the auction listing, but reported as a Diplodocus specimen in news coverage
  11. ↑ €1.44m
  12. ↑ €1.41m
  13. ↑ €2m
  14. ↑ 225,000 CHF
  15. ↑ Named in honor of the discoverer
  16. ↑ €3 million
  17. ↑ Named in honor of the owner of the land where the specimen was collected [61]
  18. ↑ €6.65m
  19. ↑ 5,550,000 CHF
  20. ↑ € 932,100
  21. ↑ ~€6,000,000

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References

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  2. 1 2 Rogers, Katie (2015-12-22). "Nicolas Cage agrees to return stolen dinosaur skull to Mongolia". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Pickrell, John (2018-06-06). "Carnivorous-dinosaur auction reflects rise in private fossil sales". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05299-3. S2CID   158957920.
  4. ↑ Williams, Paige (2013-01-20). "Bones of contention" . The New Yorker.
  5. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ Schoettler, Carl (16 September 1993). "$76,000 for 100-million-year-old dinosaur eggs? U.S. man saw the price as right". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  7. ↑ "Dinosaur artifacts draw premium prices at London auction". UPI. September 15, 1993. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
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  9. ↑ Persons, W. Scott; Currie, Philip J.; Erickson, Gregory M. (2020). "An older and exceptionally large adult specimen of Tyrannosaurus rex". The Anatomical Record. 303 (4): 656–672. doi: 10.1002/ar.24118 . ISSN   1932-8486. PMID   30897281. S2CID   85448862.
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  14. ↑ "Customs Agents Seize Dinosaur Eggs Sold At Bonhams & Butterfields For $420,000". Antiques And The Arts Weekly. 2007-02-20. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  15. ↑ Heydarpour, Roja (2007-03-26). "And to the Winners Go the Dinosaur Skull and the Mummified Hand". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  16. ↑ Chait, I. M. (April 1, 2007). "Tyrannosaurus Skull Sells For $276,000". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  17. ↑ Brait, Ellen (2015-12-16). "Tyrannosaurus skull sold for $230,000 in New York must go back to Mongolia". The Guardian.
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  19. ↑ "How much for that herrerasaurus in the window?". Boston.com. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
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  32. 1 2 "'Fighting dinosaurs' sold for €1.9m". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
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