Triceratops Skeleton 'Trey' Set for High-Stakes Online Auction
A remarkable triceratops skeleton, affectionately known as "Trey," is poised to go under the hammer in an online auction this month. This sale marks a notable event as dinosaur fossils, once primarily the preserve of museums and academic institutions, are increasingly fetching record sums in the private market.
From Museum Display to Auction Block
The fossil, measuring an impressive 17 feet in length, was discovered in 1993 near Lusk, Wyoming, by Lee Campbell and the late commercial paleontologist Allen Graffham. Dating back over 66 million years to the late Cretaceous period, Trey served as a centrepiece at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis from its grand opening in 1995 until 2023, where it was on loan to greet and inspire visitors.
Now, after a recent private sale, the skeleton resides in Singapore, available for viewings until the end of March. It will be auctioned from March 17 to 31 on Joopiter, the online platform founded by Grammy-winning artist Pharrell Williams, with a preauction estimate of $4.5 million to $5.5 million.
A Cultural Icon in a Soaring Market
Paleontologist Andre LuJan, who assisted in preparing Trey for auction, highlighted its unique cultural significance. "This fossil has a connection to people that many others lack," he explained. "It has undoubtedly inspired countless young visitors to pursue careers in paleontology."
The dinosaur fossil market has experienced explosive growth in recent years. In 2024, the stegosaurus skeleton "Apex" sold for a staggering $44.6 million, shattering the previous record of $31.8 million set in 2020 for the Tyrannosaurus rex "Stan." More recently, a rare young dinosaur skeleton exceeded its $4-6 million estimate at Sotheby's, ultimately fetching over $30 million.
Caitlin Donovan, Joopiter's global head of sales, noted a broader trend: investors are shifting from traditional categories like old master paintings towards assets with "cultural resonance," a category where dinosaurs increasingly fit.
Concerns Over Scientific Access
However, this booming market raises concerns among some scientists. Kristi Curry Rogers, a paleontologist at Macalester College, warned that public museums are "getting totally priced out of an exploding market." She emphasised that when fossils enter private collections without guaranteed access, critical scientific data can be lost forever.
LuJan acknowledged these worries but pointed out that Trey has always been privately owned. He expressed hope that, similar to Apex—now on long-term loan at the American Museum of Natural History—Trey might eventually find a home in a museum. "There's a paradigm shift towards benevolent ownership," he said, "where collectors loan or donate fossils to museums, ensuring public and scientific access."
As bidding opens, Trey's sale will test whether this iconic fossil continues to captivate not just imaginations, but also the wallets of a new generation of collectors.
