National Fossil Day: Montana Bones Soon to Be a Millionaire-asaurus

You can bet Jurassic that a dinosaur found in Montana and soon to be auctioned will likely command a staggering winning bid.

ABOUT NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY

Just about everything has a "DAY." And bones are no exception.

Always falling on the Wednesday of the second full week in October, National Fossil Day 2026 takes place on Wednesday, October 14, marking the 17th annual celebration coordinated by the National Park Service during Earth Science Week.

MEET "JODI" (AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET IN HER WILL)

A dinosaur found on a Montana ranch is headed to auction for an estimated $6 million to $9 million. Standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall and stretching nearly 20 feet long, the rare Montana fossil is one of only three such skeletons known to exist.

New research from social casino ACE.com has revealed America's top real-life treasure hotspots, with Montana ranking #12 overall.

The auction giant Sotheby's says “Jodi” is an exceptionally rare mounted Nanotyrannus skeleton. Its emergence follows the long-awaited confirmation challenging long-held assumptions that Tyrannosaurus rex was the sole large predator of the Cretaceous.

“Jodi” is the finest and most complete Nanotyrannus available, an exceptional example of this elusive predator, boasting a virtually complete skull. Judging from the overall size and degree of bone development, it can be determined that the skeleton belonged to an adult individual.

READ MORE: Dome-Headed Dinosaur Species Unearthed in Montana

WHEN AND WHERE

"Jodi" was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation on privately owned ranch land in Montana's Garfield County, near the town of Jordan. The specimen was found in 2019  rancher Jodi Pierson (starting to make sense now, huh?), who spotted it weathering out of a hillside that her family had owned for decades. 

Sotheby's will be offering "Jodi" later this month.