Triceratops skeleton ‘Trey’ is up for auction as dinosaur market hits record highs

A triceratops skeleton, named "Trey," is being auctioned after decades of display at a Wyoming museum. The auction is hosted online by Joopiter, the platform founded by Pharrell Williams. Trey, dating back over 66 million years, was discovered in 1993 and greeted visitors at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center from 1995 until 2023. Its pre-auction estimate ranges from $4.5 to $5.5 million. The fossil is currently located in Singapore, available for private viewings before the auction. The sale reflects the increasing popularity of dinosaur fossils as investments, which has seen prices soar. The market for these fossils has reached record highs, with previous sales of over $30 million. This trend draws attention to the potential loss of research opportunities if important specimens end up in private collections. However, there is hope that Trey will be loaned or donated to a museum for continued scientific study. The auction signifies a shift towards items with cultural significance, like dinosaurs, as valuable assets.