Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for $47.3 million, becoming second most valuable fossil ever
Rare Nanotyrannus Sells at Auction for $47.3M
Goldlaner.com – Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for $47.3 million, placing the dinosaur skeleton among the most valuable fossils ever sold. The remarkably complete specimen, known as Jodi, drew six bidders during a New York sale that lasted about 12 minutes.
The price greatly surpassed the pre-sale estimate of $6 million to $9 million. It was also just below the record $50.1 million paid in July for Gus, an exceptional Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
A rare skeleton with major scientific interest
Jodi stands 9.6 feet tall and measures 19.6 feet long. Although it is a little more than half the length of Gus, its scarcity likely helped fuel interest among bidders. Only three relatively complete Nanotyrannus skeletons are known to science.
The skeleton includes 191 bone elements and an almost complete skull. Bespoke 3D-printed and sculpted pieces were used to recreate missing portions so the fossil could be displayed as a more complete mounted skeleton.
Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction at a time when the dinosaur’s identity remains an important paleontological debate. Some scientists have argued that fossils classified as Nanotyrannus were young T. rex individuals, while more recent research has supported the possibility that Nanotyrannus was a distinct dinosaur.
Jodi’s dimensions and bone development indicate that it was an adult rather than an immature T. rex. That makes the specimen potentially significant for researchers studying the differences between smaller tyrannosaurs and their much larger relatives.
Discovered in Montana’s Hell Creek Formation
Montana rancher Jodi Pierson discovered the fossil in 2019, and the specimen was later named in her honor. Commercial paleontologist Clayton Phipps, often called the “Dinosaur Cowboy,” excavated it.
The remains were found in the Hell Creek Formation, a fossil-rich area spanning Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. The formation preserves evidence from the final chapter of the dinosaur era and remains one of North America’s most important sources of Late Cretaceous fossils.
Hell Creek has a long connection with tyrannosaur discoveries. An early T. rex skeleton was found there in 1902, and fossils from the region helped establish the scientific identity of the famous species.
Phipps also excavated the Dueling Dinosaurs in 2006 near the area where Jodi was found. That fossil preserves a Triceratops and a smaller tyrannosaur that appear to have been caught in a confrontation. The smaller dinosaur has since been identified as Nanotyrannus, and the specimen is held by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.
Another relatively complete Nanotyrannus skeleton, called Jane, is housed at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois. Its public display and scientific availability highlight concerns about what may happen to Jodi after the sale.
Private ownership raises access concerns
Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction with what were described as full rights, allowing the buyer to make and sell replicas of the reconstructed skeleton to institutions or private collectors. The successful bidder has not been identified.
Scientists have long expressed concern that major fossil auctions can place scientifically important specimens beyond public access and independent study. For a dinosaur still at the center of a classification debate, direct examination may be especially valuable.
“We’ve really just found out that Nanotyrannus is real, and now one of the best skeletons is about to be sold to the highest bidder,” said Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at the University of Edinburgh.
“It’s harrowing to think it could disappear into the vaults of a collector rather than displayed on a museum where it can wow and inspire kids and families and the public at large.”
Researchers can examine details that may be difficult to evaluate from photographs, casts or auction descriptions, including bone structure, growth patterns, injuries and disease. Whether Jodi remains accessible to scientists could influence future work on Nanotyrannus.
FAQ
Why is the Jodi skeleton so valuable?
Jodi is one of only three relatively complete Nanotyrannus skeletons known to science. Its near-complete skull, large number of preserved bone elements and potential scientific importance contributed to its appeal.
Where was Jodi found?
The skeleton was discovered in 2019 in Montana’s Hell Creek Formation, a region known for major dinosaur discoveries.
Can the public see Jodi now?
The buyer has not been disclosed, so it is unclear whether Jodi will be displayed publicly or made available for scientific study.