Rare Dinosaur Skeleton Sells for $6 Million at Auction
A rare Gorgosaurus dinosaur skeleton was sold at auction last week for more than $6 million.
One of only about 20 known examples of the so-called "dreadful lizard"—a relative of Tyrannosaurus rex—the "exhibition-ready mounted skeleton" sold for $6,069,500 at Sotheby's(Opens in a new window).
Standing at an impressive 9 feet, 2.5 inches tall and nearly 22 feet long, the 77-million-year-old specimen was excavated in 2018 from the Judith River Formation in Choteau County, Montana, preserved along with fossilized plant and turtle material. All 79 fossil elements (including a 38.5-by-26.5-by-17-inch skull) were estimated to fetch anywhere between $5 and $8 million.
"The fossilization of this Gorgosaurus is superb," according to the Sotheby's lot description. "There is no sign of 'pyrite disease' or other mineral issues that would represent a problem with future preservation of the fossils."
Though similar in appearance to its T. rex cousin, Gorgosaurus is thought to have been smaller, lighter, faster, and more ferocious version of the dinosaur. This specimen has not yet been given a nickname; the new (unidentified) owner will get to pick the moniker of their choice.
A majority of the collected Gorgosaurus specimens were found in Canada, where private ownership is illegal due to the country's export restrictions. This specimen, sourced on private land in the US, is the only known example available for private ownership; the rest are housed in institutions.
Bidding is now closed on Sotheby's Natural History auction(Opens in a new window), which included a collection of dinosaur teeth, claws, and bones; fossilized fish and cephalopods; shark teeth; colorful minerals; and naturally shaped sandstone sculptures known as gogottes.
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