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MUSEUMS CHOICE FOSSILS & ARTIFACTS

RARE INVESTMENT FOSSILS AND ARTIFACTS FOR SALE

It is a very tough decision for us to feature a section on the highest quality or rarest fossils because we built our entire business focusing on offering specimens of this nature.  Where most fossils sold on the public market are common, commercial types or simply unimpressive, we are proud to present a wide diversity of truly remarkable specimens and here, we dedicate a special section for them.  Keep in mind that what is listed below is ALSO listed in their respective departments elsewhere on this website.  We strongly encourage you to not limit your viewing to this section alone, but to fully explore the other individual sections accessed from the top of the page menu on this website.  A focused collector will surely find numerous specimens worthy of mention elsewhere, but may not be shown here for the sake of brevity.

Throughout the PaleoDirect.com website  you will find a quality of fossil that others would consider "world class" or of the highest quality.  Nevertheless, in an effort to help navigate the thousands of pages that make up our website, we feel that this section helps the viewer jump right to some truly impressive pieces worthy of special mention, regardless of category.


What qualifies an item to be considered MUSEUMS CHOICE by us?  There are several factors in play.  Some are going to be extremely rare but maybe not excessively impressive to a layperson.  Others will be extremely impressive but not necessarily excessively rare.  All will certainly not disappoint! 

Everything we offer on this website is solely owned by us, in our possession and can be viewed by special appointment in our 4000 square foot gallery just outside the Greater Orlando, Florida region.

To see a sampling of some of the amazing specimens we have sold in the past, we have a special archive section of a few of our most memorable offerings.  To get an idea of the kind of material we specialize in and may possibly get in the future, please feel free to tour our FOSSIL MUSEUM.
 

 

CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH SPECIMEN

 

 

FINEST INVESTMENT MUSEUM FOSSIL GIANT 1.9 METER APEX PREDATOR ORTHACANTHUS SHARK IN RARE WHITE BONE ON DARK COLORFUL ORIGINAL ROCK FROM PERMIAN PERIOD BEFORE THE FIRST DINOSAURS - Rheinland Pflaz, Germany

82.5" long by 41" overall in matrix, shark is 74.5" long

$675000     F085     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

SUPREMELY RARE 6 FOOT COMPLETE GIANT PREHISTORIC AMPHIBIAN ON ORIGINAL MATRIX FROM BEFORE THE FIRST DINOSAURS - Pfalz, Germany

82.5" x 39.25" overall on original matrix slab, amphibian is 69" in length if straightened

$750000     AMPH013     Actual Item - One Only

 

 PHENOMENAL MUSEUM-CLASS RARE COMPLETE PREHISTORIC GIANT TREE FERN BRANCH WITH ALL FRONDS INTACT FROM THE PERMIAN - Odernheim / Rhineland - Pfalz, Germany

51" x 34.5" overall, tree fern branch is 50" in length

$85000     PL037     Actual Item - One Only

MONSTROUS NEARLY 3 FOOT DEVONIAN SEA SCORPION EURYPTERID WITH THREE DIMENSIONAL DETAIL FROM GERMANY - ONE OF THREE KNOWN TO EXIST - Western Germany

39" by 29" overall with rock plate, eurypterid is 31.5" (80 cm) in length if straightened

$195000     EUR001     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

OUR LARGEST EVER MONSTROUS 24 INCH BLACK ARIETITES AMMONITE FROM GERMANY - Northern Germany

24" across

$7495     AMX257     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

MUSEUM COLLECTION COMPLETE DINOSAUR FAUNAL FOOTPRINT SET OF THE EARLY JURASSIC HOLY CROSS MOUNTAINS MOYENISAUROPUS, ANOMOEPUS AND GRALLATOR - Gliniany Las (Upper Hettangian) - Holy Cross Mountains, Poland


Anomoepus multiple track way - 15.75" x 11.5" with 3" x 3" footprints

Moyensauropus  footprint - 11" x 8.5" with 6.75" x 6.75" footprint

Grallator footprint - 8" x 6" with 4" x 3" footprint

$14500 for all three     DF002     INCLUDES STANDS     Actual Item - One Only

 

 VERY RARE EARLY MAYAN LARGE DEITY HEAD PAINTED INCENSE CHIMNEY WITH ORIGINAL PIGMENTS INTACT - Central America

8.25" high by 8.5" wide

$8500     PC003     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

RARE MUSEUM GRADE GIANT PREHISTORIC STARFISH, SEA LILY AND TRILOBITE FOSSIL SLAB OF MASS EXTINCTION EVENT FOSSILS - Ktaoua Formation - South Morocco

35" x 26.5" overall with a slab of 2" average thickness, starfish range in diameter from 5.25" to 2.5" in lengths

$18500     SF017     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE GIANT WHITE ORTHACANTHUS PERMIAN SHARK ON MATRIX WITH 3D RELIEF AND EXPOSED TEETH - Rheinland Pflaz, Germany

80.5" long by 31.5" overall in matrix, shark is 63" long

$175000     F075     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

FINEST GRADE GIANT CRINOID FOSSIL SLAB LOADED WITH EXTINCT  SEA LILIES ON ORIGINAL PREHISTORIC OCEAN FLOOR MATRIX - South Morocco

48" x 43" overall

$39500     CRI001     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 EXTREMELY RARE RECORD-SIZE COMPLETE EUROPEAN WOOLLY RHINOCEROS SKULL WITH LOWER JAW - Pleistocene Gravel Deposit - Germany

34" in length x 15.75

$36500     LM12-045     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ONE OF ONLY FEW OF THIS TYPE KNOWN TO EXIST ULTRA RARE URALICHAS TRILOBITE CHASING A SELENOPELTIS TRILOBITE  - Elkaid Errami, South Morocco

20" x 11.75" with original matrix, Uralichas is 15" long, Selenopeltis is  3.5" long 

$24500     TRX053     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 ULTRA RARE ANATOTITAN HADROSAUR ARTICULATED VERTEBRAL COLUMN MOUNTED 'AS FOUND' WITH ALL ORIGINAL BONES FROM SINGLE DINOSAUR  - Hell Creek Formation - Montana, U.S.A.

61.5" x 37.5" overall, bones are 40" long overall

$24500     DB7-013     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

MASSIVE SLAB OF LARGE ASAPHUS TRILOBITES IN NATURAL DEATH ASSEMBLAGE - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

40" x 39" overall with matrix, trilobites range in lengths from 9" to 8"

$39000     TRX-010     Actual Item - One Only

 

ULTRA RARE 100% ORIGINAL ARTICULATED LOWER CRETACEOUS PTEROSAUR WING ARM - Santana Formation (Crato Member) - Ceara, Brazil

Original limestone slab is 15.25" x 9.5" overall, wing (without humerus) is approximately  26" long if assembled and straightened  (estimated 1.6-1.7 meter wingspan)

$12500     PT001     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL ASSOCIATED PAIR OF ANCIENT GREEK KYATHOS WINE MIXING DIPPERS OF UNUSUAL DESIGN - Isle of Rhodes, Greece (former old collection dating to the 1950's)

8.8" and 5.8" maximum width with handle, bowls are 6.5" and 4" in diameter

$3750     R111     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE INVESTMENT GRADE GIANT SIZE ASPIDORHYNCHUS JURASSIC FISH ON LIMESTONE SLAB - Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Eichstatt, Germany

51" in length x 33" high overall with fish 32.75" long

$28900     F012     WITH ATTACHED STEEL WALL BRACKET     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

RECORD SIZE 26 INCH MUSEUM GRADE EOCENE MUDFISH FOSSIL FROM THE FAMOUS MESSEL PIT - Messel Oil Shale Pit - Messel, Germany

32" in length x 13.5" high overall with matrix, fish 26" long

$15900     F086     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

VERY RARE SUPERB AND COMPLETE HADROSAUR DINOSAUR SCAPUL (SHOULDER BLADE) BONE - Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A.

39" long

$5795     DB7-007     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

MUSEUM GRADE EXTREMELY RARE LARGE CRETACEOUS EUBIODECTES FISH FOSSIL FROM LEBANON WITH UNCOMMON PRESENCE OF ALL FINS - Hajoula, Lebanon

25.8" x 11.8" overall, fish is 23.25" in length if straight

$17500     F093     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

ULTRA RARE 12 INCH COMPLETE SOFT PART PRESERVATION CONULARIIDA FOSSILS WITH LARGE SELENOPELTIS AND OTHER TRILOBITES ON LARGE ORDOVICIAN PREHISTORIC MARINE LIFE SLAB - Ktaoua Formation - South Morocco

29.5" x 21" overall with matrix, largest conularia is 12" long, selenopeltis trilobite is 6" long

$12500     CON001     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE NEW UNDESCRIBED LARGE CAMBRIAN REDLICHIID TRILOBITE WITH UNUSUAL ARTICULATION FROM NORTH AFRICA - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

8.4" long and 7" wide with original matrix, trilobite 6" in length

$3850     TRX067     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only    

 

 

RARE MUSEUM GRADE NATURAL CONCENTRATION OF 18 SELENOPELTIS TRILOBITES ON VERY LARGE ORIGINAL SEDIMENTARY ROCK LAYER - Ktaoua Formation - South Morocco

31" x 25.5" overall with a slab of 2" average thickness, trilobites range in length from 8" to 4.5" in lengths

$19500     TRX-025     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

ULTRA RARE INVESTMENT FOSSIL LARGE SPINY ASAPHID TRILOBITE WITH SPINE-TIPPED PLEURAL LOBES - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

16.25" long x 11" wide with concretion matrix, trilobite is 14.75" long

$6495     TRX-020     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only 

 

ULTRA RARE GIANT SQUID FOSSIL FROM THE JURASSIC PERIOD ON SOLNHOFEN LITHOGRAPHIC LIMESTONE - Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Eichstatt, Germany

35" x 10.75" overall with matrix slab, squid 32.5" long

$28500     SQ005    INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

INCREDIBLE NATURAL "FISHING SCENE" FISH FOSSIL FEATURING A RARE JURASSIC BOWFIN FROM THE FAMOUS SOLNHOFEN DEPOSITS - Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Eichstatt, Germany

19.5" x 16.75" overall with fish 7.4" long

$14995     F063    INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

RARE 510 MILLION YEAR OLD GIANT PREHISTORIC FOSSIL SLAB OF LARGE ASAPHUS TRILOBITES IN NATURAL DEATH ASSEMBLAGE - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

21.5" x 21" overall with matrix, trilobites range in lengths from 9.5" to 8.25"

$12500     TRX-019     Actual Item - One Only 

 

FINEST GRADE ASPIDORHYNCHUS JURASSIC FISH ON LARGE ORIGINAL SLAB FROM SOLNHOFEN - Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Eichstatt, Germany

33.5" x 30.25" high overall with fish 23" long

$15995     F015    Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 MUSEUM GRADE MASSIVE EOCENE PERIOD PLAGIOLOPHUS PRIMITIVE THREE-TOED HORSE FOSSIL BONE BED IN MATRIX - France

37" x 19.25" overall and averaging 1.5" thick with a flat reinforced back

$3995     H001     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

MUSEUM EXHIBITION-GRADE LARGE PREHISTORIC SALAMANDER FOSSIL FROM THE PERMIAN PERIOD BEFORE THE FIRST DINOSAURS - Pfalz, Germany

36.25" x 15.75" overall on original matrix slab, amphibian is 25" in length if straightened

$19500     AMPH034     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

RARE LARGE SLAB OF ORDOVICIAN PERIOD ASAPHUS TRILOBITES IN NATURAL DEATH GROUP - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

27" x 18" overall with matrix, trilobites range in lengths from 5.5" to 4"

$13995     TRX-018     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only 

 

 

RARE MASTODON COMPLETE UPPER HUMERUS ARM BONE - Santa Fe River - Northern Florida, U.S.A.

36.5" in length

$4495     LM15-033     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

FINEST MUSEUM GRADE LARGE 12.75 INCH EOCENE BOWFIN FISH FROM THE FAMOUS MESSEL PIT - Messel Oil Shale Pit - Messel, Germany

14" in length x 6.25" high overall with matrix, fish 12.75" long

$3895     F039     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 RARE EUROPEAN ICE AGE LATE AUROCHS SKULL IN SCARCE FORM WITH ORIGINAL TEETH AND BOTH HORN CORES - Southeastern Poland

20" long

$1745     LM17-020     Actual Item - One Only

 
  

 

 ULTRA RARE GIANT MASS DEATH ASSEMBLAGE OF JURASSIC SEA URCHINS WITH SPINES IN MATRIX - Landaville, France

17" by 10.5"

$1995     EC003     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

BEAUTIFUL LARGE DOUBLE ASAPHUS TRILOBITE ON AMAZING NATURAL BULLSEYE PATTERN SEDIMENTARY HOST ROCK - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

15" x 11.25" overall with matrix, upper trilobite 9" in length

$3495     TRX-017     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 LARGE AESTHETIC CRETACEOUS FOSSIL AMMONITE GROUP OF NUMEROUS AND DIVERSE TYPES OF AMMONITES - Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

23.5" across and 14.5" high overall with matrix, ammonites range from 6.75" to 2.75" across

$2495     AMX204     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

RARE LARGE FINEST GRADE PERMIAN SCLEROCEPHALUS AMPHIBIAN ON MATRIX - Pfalz, Germany

25.25" x 11.2" overall on matrix slab, amphibian is 17" in length if straightened

$7495     AMPH011     Actual Item - One Only

 

RARE ELDERLY PLIOCENE GOMPHOTHERE JAW WITH ORIGINAL FINAL MOLAR SET PRIOR TO DEATH - Suwannee River - Florida, U.S.A.

16.5" wide x 16" long overall with molars 8.25" and 7.75" in length

$6995     LM60-001      Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE ASSOCIATED HALISAURUS MOSASAUR SKELETON WITH COMPLETE SKULL IN MATRIX - Khouribga, Morocco

62.5" in length overall, skull in main matrix block is 22" x 16" overall

$29000     MOSKEL1     Actual Item - One Only

 

RARE FINEST GRADE VELOCIRAPTORINE DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" KILLING TOE CLAW FROM HELL CREEK - Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A.

1.4" long on the dorsal curve

$2795     DC6-016     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

RARE SUPREME SQUID FOSSIL IN NATURAL RED PIGMENT WITH CALCITE CRYSTALS ON LARGE LIMESTONE SLAB - Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Eichstatt, Germany

28" x 20.5" high overall with squid 11.75" long

$2795     SQ003    INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

RARE DEVONIAN TRIAD FISH FOSSIL LARGE SUPREME DEVONIAN GYROPTYCHIUS FISH WITH ASSOCIATED OSTEOLEPIS AND COCCOSTEUS FISH - Middle Old Red Sandstone Formation - Orkney, Scotland

14" x 13.25" overall with 14" long Gyroptychius, 6.75" long Osteolepis, and 4" Coccosteus

$9495     F065     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

WOOLY MAMMOTH VERY LARGE COMPLETE SCAPULA - North Sea, Holland

37" long from articulating joint to end x 28" in width

$8995     LM8-001     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

RARE SUPREME GRADE SPINY QUADROPS TRILOBITE WITH ALL SPINES PREPARED FREE-STANDING - Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

4.25" x 3" with original matrix, trilobite approximately 3.25" long

$3750     TR44-003     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE NEW SPECIES SIEMENSICHTHYS FISH ON LIMESTONE SLAB - Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Painten near Regensburg (Kimmeridge), Germany

17.5" in length x 10.75" high overall with fish 10.25" long

$10500     FG007     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

PARADOXIDES NATURAL DOUBLE TRILOBITE BED - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

20.5" long and 15" wide with original matrix, animals average 12" in length

$3450     TR104     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only    

 

 

RARE GRADE ERYON JURASSIC LOBSTER FOSSIL FROM SOLNHOFEN LITHOGRAPHIC LIMESTONE - Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone Formation - Eichstatt, Germany

14.5" x 11.5" overall with matrix, crab is 5.75" long overall

$2995     CRUS-004     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE BRONTOTHERIUM FULL LOWER JAW WITH TEETH - Chadron Formation - White River Badlands, South Dakota, U.S.A.

24" in length  x 14.5" wide

$5995     LM1003     Actual Item - One Only

 

RARE LARGE SUPREME GRADE SPINY QUADROPS TRILOBITE WITH ALL SPINES PREPARED FREE-STANDING - Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

5.75" x 4.25" with original matrix, trilobite approximately 4.25" long

$3750     TR44-002     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

RARE LARGE BROWN ARIETITES AMMONITE FROM FRANCE IN ORIGINAL MATRIX - France

18" x 14" overall with original matrix, ammonite is 12.5" across

$2695     AMX-101     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE PRESERVATION LARGE CRETACEOUS NEEDLEFISH RHYNCHODERCETIS FOSSIL ON LARGE LIMESTONE PLATE WITH PLANT, FISH AND SHRIMP FOSSILS - Hajoula, Lebanon

25" x 20" overall, fish is 26" in length if straight

$17500     F096     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

UNBROKEN AND COMPLETE INVESTMENT GRADE TYRANNOSAURUS REX TOOTH WITH INCREDIBLE RIBBING AND COLOR BANDING - Hell Creek Formation - Montana, U.S.A.

2.2" long on the leading edge

$7895     DT18-044     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

ULTRA RARE UNBROKEN DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" KILLING TOE CLAW IN ORIGINAL SITE MATRIX AS FOUND FROM HELL CREEK - Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A.

Matrix is 3" by 2.5" overall, Killing Claw is 1.1" long on the dorsal curve

$2795     DC6-018     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 
 

 

ULTRA RARE ENORMOUS 4 INCH INVESTMENT GRADE FOSSIL ANGUSTIDENS SHARK TOOTH - Undisclosed river - South Carolina, U.S.A.

4" in length on the diagonal edge

$2495     SHX006     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only  

 

SPECTACULAR LARGE INTERIOR DESIGN FOSSIL JURASSIC PREHISTORIC AMMONITE ON LARGE WHITE LIMESTONE SLAB - Hungary

22" x 17" overall with ammonite 10" across

$2150     AMX276     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

 

 

 

JURASSIC PERIOD BROWN FOSSILIZED OCEAN FLOOR SLAB WITH ORIGINAL RIPPLE PATTERN - Eastern Europe

24" by 15" overall, 1.5" thick

$1750     FX010     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only  

 

 

JURASSIC PERIOD FOSSILIZED OCEAN FLOOR SLAB WITH ORIGINAL RIPPLE PATTERN - Eastern Europe

28" by 16.75" overall, 1.5" thick

$1750     FX001     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only  

 

 

JURASSIC PERIOD FOSSILIZED OCEAN FLOOR SLAB WITH ORIGINAL RIPPLE PATTERN - Eastern Europe

27.5" by 23" overall, 1.5-2" thick

$1950     FX002     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only  

 

 

JURASSIC PERIOD FOSSILIZED OCEAN FLOOR SLAB WITH ORIGINAL RIPPLE PATTERN - Eastern Europe

23" by 22" overall, 1.5-2" thick

$1850     FX003     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only  

 

 

JURASSIC PERIOD FOSSILIZED OCEAN FLOOR SLAB WITH ORIGINAL RIPPLE PATTERN - Eastern Europe

24" by 15 overall, 1.5-2" thick

$1850     FX004     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only