A 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus fossil is set to sell for a whopping £4.7 million.
It will be the most expensive one that has ever been sold.
Now named ‘Apex’, the dinosaur measures 11 feet tall and is 20 feet long.
Showing no sign of combat, it is believed that the dinosaur lived a long life, with the bones showing signs of arthritis.
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The incredibly well-preserved specimen was discovered in May 2022, in Colorado, US, in the Morrison Formation.
The full excavation was completed by October 2023 and has now been donated to auction.
The palaeontologist who discovered ‘Apex’ is well known and respected in his field of work but has requested to remain nameless.
‘Apex’ will now be a part of the annual Geek Week auction hosted by Sotheby’s on July 17 2024 as reported by What’s The Jam.
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The dinosaur is set to fetch anywhere between £3,145,280 ($4,000,000) to £4,717,920 ($6,000,000).
Meaning ‘Apex’ is estimated to be the eighth most expensive fossil of all time.
Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s Global Head of Science and Popular Culture, said: “‘Apex’ marks an incredibly important milestone, as simply one of the best fossils of its kind ever unearthed.
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“Stegosaurus is one of the most universally recognizable dinosaur species, whose unmistakable silhouette has been a source of fascination and wonder for generations.
“Through the careful process of excavation, preparation, and installation, ‘Apex ‘sets a new standard for all future discoveries of this magnitude, and further reinforces the enduring appeal of Stegosaurus and its vaunted status in popular culture.”
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