In Sotheby's annual Geek Week series, the near-complete fossilized remains of a 161-million-year-old stegosaurus, affectionately dubbed "Apex," are poised to command massive attention and bids, according to AP News.

Apex was discovered in 2022 on private land near Dinosaur, Colorado, but it was only fully excavated by October 2023. The specimen stands 11 feet tall and stretches 27 feet from nose to tail, with its iconic pointed dorsal plates defining its species.

Sotheby's global head of science and popular culture, Cassandra Hatton, described Apex as a "coloring book dinosaur." Despite being a specimen without signs of combat, unusual for stegosauruses known for using their tail spikes defensively, Apex displays evidence of arthritis, suggesting it lived a long life in the ancient Jurassic period.

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Stegosaurus Fossil Auction in New York

Apex will be auctioned at Sotheby's in New York on Wednesday, July 17, and is estimated to sell for between $4 million and $6 million. 

This auction is considered massive since Stegosaurus fossils of such high quality have never been sold publicly before. Hatton emphasized the fossil's rarity and uniqueness, suggesting that the auction will reveal its actual market value due to its outstanding preservation and scientific importance.

The auction, part of Sotheby's Geek Week, shows the growing fascination and commercial interest in paleontological treasures, appealing to collectors and institutions eager to acquire a piece of prehistoric history. 

As the countdown to the auction begins, experts and enthusiasts alike await whether Apex will set new auction price records.

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