One of the World’s Last Dinosaurs Up for Auction at £3M+

A remarkably preserved dinosaur skeleton, affectionately named “Spike”, is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s in London this December — with a pre-sale estimate of between £3 million and £5 million (roughly $4 million to $6.6 million).

Found in 2022 within the famed Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota, the skeleton belongs to a little-known species called a Caenagnathid. Life-restorations suggest Spike measured around 0.8 to 1 m in length, weighed between 2 and 2.8 kg, and—get this—was likely heavily feathered.

The Significance of Spike

What makes this specimen especially rare is its completeness: the auction house estimates that it includes around 100 fossil bones, which is unprecedented for this family of dinosaurs. As Christie’s makes clear, “only a handful of comparable specimens have ever been discovered—and none have ever come to auction.”

Caenagnathids (closely related to creatures like the so-called “Chicken from Hell” Anzu wyliei) are known for their bird-like features and crests, long legs, and remote fossil record—so a near-complete example like Spike is a scientific (and commercial) gem.

Why It Matters (and Why It’s Controversial)

From a collector’s standpoint, fossils like Spike offer something only a few objects in global science can: deep time, rarity, and aesthetic drama. That rarity comes at a price—and the auction also raises ethical and scientific questions. When a fossil of such importance enters private hands (via auction rather than a museum deposit), it prompts debate about preservation, study access, and public benefit.

Muscling into this market at multi-million-dollar levels signals that natural-history objects are now firmly part of the “alternative investment” herd, alongside art, classic cars, and wine.

What’s Next & Looking Ahead

Spike will be displayed in Christie’s King Street galleries ahead of the December 11, 2025, auction — including immersive VR experiences and global viewing options.

The bidding will be one to watch—not simply for the price achieved, but for what happens afterward. Will the specimen end up publicly accessible, or locked away in private ownership? Either path will significantly shape the legacy of one of Earth’s “last dinosaurs.”

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