Tyrannosaurus Fossil Bought by Individual for 8.1 Billion Won

Successful Bid by Private Collector at European Auction

The complete fossil of Tyrannosaurus (T. rex), known as the "King of Dinosaurs," was auctioned off and reportedly sold for a staggering sum of over 8 billion KRW, drawing significant attention.

On the 18th (local time), the British 'BBC' reported that the T. rex fossil was sold for 5.55 million Swiss francs (approximately 8.1 billion KRW) at a Swiss auction conducted by the auction company 'Koller.' The buyer, who paid this enormous amount and became the owner of the fossil, is said to be a private individual from Europe. The T. rex fossil auctioned this time is named '293 Trinity.'

Between 2008 and 2013, 293 bones from three T. rex specimens found in the Montana and Wyoming regions of the United States were assembled into one complete dinosaur fossil. The name 'Trinity' refers to the fact that three specimens make up one.

Trinity is a massive fossil measuring 11.6 meters in length and 3.9 meters in height, with a skull length of 1.4 meters. Dinosaur fossils that come up for auction often contain some replicas, but more than half of this fossil consists of real bones, making it highly valuable.

Dr. Hans Jakob Ziver of the Swiss Atal Dinosaur Museum said, "293 Trinity is a special creature," emphasizing, "There are only 20 to 30 excellent Tyrannosaurus fossils worldwide, and this one (293 Trinity) is particularly large and outstanding among them."

Dinosaur fossils are very popular among wealthy collectors and are mostly sold at high prices. Last year, a Gorgosaurus fossil was sold for 6 million USD (approximately 7.9 billion KRW) at a New York auction market.

A bid is underway for a Tyrannosaurus fossil at an auction in Switzerland conducted by the global auction company 'Koller'.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

However, in academia, there is considerable opposition to high-quality dinosaur fossils falling into private ownership, as it may negatively impact the advancement of paleontology.

Steve Brusatte, a dinosaur expert and professor at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, expressed concern, saying, "If rare dinosaur fossils with great scientific value disappear into the vaults of private collectors, they cannot be publicly exhibited," adding, "Museums cannot compete with the wealth of a few billionaires or the super-rich."

Thomas Carr, a professor at Carthage College in the United States, also pointed out to 'The Times,' "There are 59 dinosaur specimens in museums worldwide accessible to scholars for research purposes, while private collections number 74. Auctions (where fossils become privately owned) are a loss to everyone interested in natural history, from young students to scientists."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.