The centerpiece of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center could now be yours. 

A Triceratops skeleton that has been on public exhibition at the center for nearly 30 years will be auctioned off through Pharrell’s Joopiter platform later this month, with a pre-sale estimate of between $4.5 million and $5.5 million. 

The historic fossil, nicknamed “Trey,” was discovered in 1993 near Lusk, Wyoming, by legendary geologist and paleontologist Allen Graffham and renowned fossil hunter Lee Campbell. It was excavated from the Lance Formation, shipped to Germany for restoration and mounting, then returned to the U.S. for the grand opening of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in 1995. Measuring over seven feet tall and more than 17 feet long, the behemoth has been viewed by over one million visitors over the past three decades.

Trey is the only museum-shown Triceratops skeleton to come to auction, according to Joopiter. It is one of the last dinosaurs Graffham discovered that is still privately owned, and the only dinosaur of his to come to market in the past two decades. Very few dinosaurs re-enter the market after they are bought, with most permanently held in private collections or donated to museums. 

Dating back more than 66 million years to the late Cretaceous period, Trey offers a window into prehistoric life. Triceratops, meaning “three-horned face,” ranked among the dominant herbivores of the era, with those thick horns reportedly strong enough to withstand 16 tons of pressure. Trey has been studied by leading paleontologist Andre LuJan, who describes the dinosaur as “an ambassador from deep time” that can teach us about the ancient world. 

Dinosaur skeletons have become slightly contentious yet highly coveted collectibles, with prices for specimens skyrocketing over the past 25 years. Just two years ago, the Stegosaurus “Apex” sold for a record $44.6 million at Sotheby’s, becoming the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. The commercialization of these historic fossils has sparked outrage within the scientific community, with some critics arguing that such artifacts should not be in private collections. LuJan believes the private ownership of fossils can be beneficial, though.

“I look at the commercial fossil industry with a ‘best and first’ policy,” he tells Robb Report. “If it is the best-known example or the first-ever discovered, I very much believe that every effort should be made to preserve it in the public trust for everyone. But a privately owned dinosaur skeleton can create equal, or even more, social benefit than some museum specimens.”

Collectors can help further scientific research and public awareness, too. “As an owner, you can loan, display, or donate the dinosaur at will to make a positive impact,” LuJan adds. “Some museums even have strict collection policies that sometimes prevent even taking a fossil off exhibit to be studied further, which means private artifacts can support important research. The possibilities for education are vast, and for someone who has devoted my life to paleontology, this is what I support the most.”

The auction will run from March 17 to 31 on the Joopiter website. Trey can be viewed in Singapore by private appointment from now until the end of March.