The Newshound

Rare 'mini T. rex' dinosaur skeleton sells for $47.3m in New York, more than FIVE TIMES Sotheby's top estimate

The Nanotyrannus skeleton nicknamed 'Jodi', one of only three of its kind recorded by science, sold for $47.3m at Sotheby's — nearly eight times its $6m estimate.
The Nanotyrannus skeleton nicknamed 'Jodi', one of only three of its kind recorded by science, sold for $47.3m at Sotheby's — nearly eight times its $6m estimate.

A mystery bidder paid $47.3 million for "Jodi," a near-complete Nanotyrannus skeleton, after a 12-minute bidding war between six buyers at Sotheby's in New York on Tuesday. The result makes "Jodi" the second most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold, behind only the $50.1 million paid for T. rex "Gus" at the same auction house this summer. Sotheby's had placed the pre-sale estimate at just $6 to $9 million.

"Jodi" is one of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons in existence, standing 6.5 feet tall and stretching nearly 20 feet long.

The skeleton was discovered in 2019 by Montana rancher Jodi Pierson, after whom it is named, and excavated by fossil hunters featured in the Discovery Channel series 'Dino Hunters'.

Critics warn that sky-high auction prices routinely price out museums and universities, removing rare specimens from public and scientific reach.

MoreThe GuardianRare Nanotyrannus skeleton sells for $47.3m at New York auctionAPA dinosaur fossil that looks like a mini T. rex just sold for a giant $47 millionNY PostDinosaur fossil resembling ‘mini T. rex’ sells for whopping $47MGB NewsDinosaur skeleton once mistaken for Tyrannosaurus Rex sells for whopping $47.3million at auctionIrish IndependentMystery buyer pays second-highest price ever for dinosaur fossil as nanotyrannus sells for €42m
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