KOLLER TRX-293 TRINITY 18 April 2023

TRX-293 TRINITY Mounted in a dynamic, scientifically accurate and modern pose, the 67-million-year-old TRX-293 TRINITY is among the finest known unearthed specimens of one of the largest terrestrial pred- ators that ever roamed the earth. With an astonishing length of 11.6 metres (38 feet) and a towering height of 4.37 metres (incl. base) – TRINITY is one of the most spec­ tacular T. rex skeletons in theworld. It is a remarkably well restored original fossil (50.17%original bonematerial) that consists of composite bones from three exceptional Tyran- nosaurus specimens that were unearthed be- tween 2008 and 2013, all three of comparable size, quality and geological origin from the Hell Creek and Lance Creek formations in Montana and Wyoming. Both of these locations are nota- ble for twoof themost important Tyrannosaurus specimens ever discovered: ‘Sue’, auctioned for $8.4 million in 1997, and ‘Stan’, whose world-­ record price of $31.8 million in 2020 propelled dinosaur fossils into a stratospheric level normal- ly reserved for themost covetedworks of fine art. According to the scientific publication ‘Na- ture’ (April 2021), only 32 adult T. rex specimens have ever been found. This number, minuscule when compared to the number of T. rex that likely existed during their two-million-year reign, high- lights the extreme rarity of any T. rex specimen, but especially one of the quality and complete- ness of TRX-293. TRINITY ranks amongst the top known specimens in the world, almost all others of which are housed in institutions, mak- ing it a unique specimen available for purchase. ASCIENTIFICTRINITY The first of TRINITY’s specimens to be used to reconstitute the giant skeleton, ‘GarfieldCounty 2’, was excavated in 2013 and makes up the ma- jority of the superbly preserved axial skeleton and pelvic region. The second partial specimen, ’Garfield County 1’, was discovered in 2012 and contributedmaterial to complete the axial skele- ton. The rare and remarkable skull of TRINITY comes froma third partial specimen discovered in the Lance Creek Formation of Weston County, Wyoming. That site, which was completed in 2013, also furnished a variety of postcranial ele- ments, including vertebrae and portions of the hind legs. These outstanding partial skeletons are merged together as TRX-293 TRINITY. At 11.6 metres (38 feet) metres long, 3.9 metres in height, and with a skull length of 1.4 metres, it is one of the most spectacular T. rex skeletons in theworld. ‘THE QUALITY OF THE PREPARATION AND MOUNTINGWORK IS WHAT REALLY COUNTS IN THE VALUE OF A DINOSAUR’. Dr Hans Jakob ‘Kirby’ Siber, palaeontologist and head of theAathal Dinosaur Museum, Switzerland 10