Nanotyrannus skeleton goes to auction in New York with £4.5m price tag

What the report says

A rare dinosaur skeleton identified as Nanotyrannus is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in New York, with a starting estimate of at least $6 million and a possible sale price of up to $9 million. The mounted specimen, nicknamed “Jodi,” is described by the auction house as an exhibition-ready skeleton with nearly complete remains, including a well-preserved skull. BBC World News reported that the sale follows scientific confirmation last year that the fossil belongs to a distinct genus, rather than a young Tyrannosaurus rex.

The skeleton was found in Montana by rancher Jodi Pierson and later excavated by commercial palaeontologist Clayton Phipps. It was first displayed publicly as a juvenile T. rex before the genus was reclassified. Sotheby’s says it is one of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons, making it especially significant to researchers and collectors.

The auction has renewed debate over whether major fossil finds should be sold into private ownership or kept in public institutions. Some scientists, including palaeontologist Steve Brusatte, argue that specimens like this should remain accessible in museums for research and public education. Others note that private excavation and preparation involve substantial cost and effort, and that rare fossils sometimes later enter public collections. More broadly, the sale reflects growing interest in high-value dinosaur remains at auction.