Rare T-Rex Dinosaur Original Framework To Be Auctioned In Switzerland This Month

TRX-293 Trinity. (Source: Koller)

JAKARTA - Millions of years after dinosaurs seized control of Earth, the framework of the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex was introduced to the public in Switzerland on Wednesday ahead of its auction this month.

The giant Karnivora, named TRX-293 Trinity, is expected to sell between 5 million and 8 million Swiss francs (Rp 81,808,013,150-Rp130,892,821,040) when auctioned in Zurich on April 18.

With a height of 3.9 meters and a length of 11.6 meters, this is the third T-Rex framework offered in the auction, and is the first on the Blue Continent.

"The name of this skeleton is 'Trinity', as this framework is made of three individuals and all found in the United States," said Cyril Koller, owner of the auction house that made the sale.

Another name is taken from 293 bones in his skeleton.

Koller predicts a private individual will become the most likely buyer, although he believes that the general public can still see him in the future.

The discovery of T-Rex fossils is very rare, said Hans Jacob-Siber, a paleontologist at the Aathal Dinosaur Museum in Switzerland.

"It's not a clone or a copy, it's genuine. And the numbers are very few, very few," Cyber told Reuters.

"In fact, until around 1970 or 1980, there were only less than a dozen Tyrannosaurus, most of which were already in museums in the United States," he said.

It is known, almost all of the other T-Rex fossils are stored in museums, meaning there is great interest whenever a skeleton is sold.

Two other T-Rexes found in North America - named Sue and Stan - sold for 8.4 million US dollars and 31.8 million US dollars respectively when they were sold in 1997 and 2020.