Dinosaur skeleton sells for $5 million at auction in Paris

Paris: The skeleton of "Vulcain," a 20.5-metre-long Apatosaurus, was auctioned in Paris for €4.7 million (about $5 million), making it one of the highest-priced dinosaur skeletons ever sold in France, auction houses Collin du Bocage and Barbarossa said.

The record remains with "Big John," which sold for €6 million in Paris in 2021.

"Vulcain," comprised of over 80% original bones, was estimated at €3 million to €5 million before the sale. The €4.7 million sale price excludes value-added tax (VAT) and the auctioneer's fee.

The new owner, a French collector, intends to lend the skeleton to a museum or scientific institution.

The fossil market is thriving, highlighted by the July 2024 auction of a 150-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, which sold for $45 million at Sotheby’s in New York.