Triceratops Skeleton 'Trey' Heads to Auction as Dinosaur Market Booms

The 17-foot-long fossil, on display at a Wyoming museum for decades, is expected to fetch $4.5 million to $5.5 million.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A triceratops skeleton known as 'Trey' that has been on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center for nearly 30 years is set to be auctioned off on the Joopiter platform, founded by Pharrell Williams. The fossil, discovered in 1993, has a pre-auction estimate of $4.5 million to $5.5 million, reflecting the surging demand for dinosaur remains as collectible assets.

Why it matters

The sale of Trey, a museum-exhibited dinosaur, highlights the growing popularity of prehistoric fossils as investments, raising concerns that important specimens could disappear into private collections, depriving scientists of research opportunities. However, the buyer of the recently auctioned 'Apex' stegosaurus skeleton has agreed to a long-term loan to a public museum, suggesting a shift toward more 'benevolent' ownership models.

The details

Trey, the triceratops skeleton, was discovered near Lusk, Wyoming, in 1993 by commercial paleontologist Allen Graffham and his colleague Lee Campbell. The 17-foot-long herbivore has been on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center since the museum's grand opening in 1995. After being recently sold in a private transaction, Trey is now in Singapore, where it is available for private viewings before the online auction on Joopiter from March 17 to 31.

  • Trey was discovered near Lusk, Wyoming, in 1993.
  • Trey has been on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center since the museum's grand opening in 1995.
  • Trey was recently sold in a private transaction and is now in Singapore for private viewings.
  • The online auction for Trey on the Joopiter platform will take place from March 17 to 31, 2026.

The players

Trey

A triceratops skeleton that has been on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center for nearly 30 years.

Lee Campbell

A commercial paleontologist who discovered the Trey triceratops skeleton near Lusk, Wyoming, in 1993.

Allen Graffham

A commercial paleontologist who made numerous significant fossil discoveries and co-discovered the Trey triceratops skeleton with Lee Campbell in 1993.

Wyoming Dinosaur Center

A museum in Thermopolis, Wyoming, that has had the Trey triceratops skeleton on loan and on display since its grand opening in 1995.

Joopiter

An online auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist and producer Pharrell Williams, where the Trey triceratops skeleton will be auctioned.

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What they’re saying

“Trey 'has this cultural aspect that a lot of fossils that go to auction these days just simply don't have.' This one is connected to people and undoubtedly has inspired young children who've seen it to pursue a career in paleontology.”

— Andre LuJan, Paleontologist (ksgf.com)

“(Dinosaurs) have always captivated our imagination … and people are now starting to see the value in investing in these as assets.”

— Andre LuJan, Paleontologist (ksgf.com)

“If a fossil goes into a private collection without guaranteed access forever, that data is essentially lost to science.”

— Kristi Curry Rogers, Paleontologist at Macalester College (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The Trey triceratops skeleton will be auctioned on the Joopiter platform from March 17 to 31, 2026, with a pre-auction estimate of $4.5 million to $5.5 million.

The takeaway

The sale of the Trey triceratops skeleton, a museum-exhibited dinosaur, reflects the surging demand for prehistoric fossils as collectible assets, raising concerns about the potential loss of important research specimens to private collections. However, the recent 'benevolent' ownership model of the Apex stegosaurus skeleton, which was loaned to a public museum, suggests a shift towards more responsible stewardship of these cultural and scientific treasures.