Six Megalodon teeth displayed for auction at Jones Auction House in Saint John, N.B. CTV News
A well-known auction house in Saint John, N.B., is offering a rare opportunity for collectors. From March 16 to 30, six fossilized megalodon teeth will be up for bidding. These prehistoric shark teeth come from a private collector in northern New Brunswick, who owns one of Canada’s largest collections of megalodon fossils.
Jones Auction House, run by siblings Caleb and Sarah Jones, is famous for handling high-end art, including works by Nova Scotia artist Maud Lewis. However, they are now branching into fossil auctions.
“We love handling unique items outside our usual expertise,” said Caleb. “It helps us learn and allows us to work with different collectors.”
A Collector’s Treasure
The six megalodon teeth in the auction vary in appearance. Some are polished for display, while others remain natural with barnacles attached. Sarah explained that some collectors prefer unpolished teeth because they showcase more of the original serrations.
Megalodon teeth are highly valued by fossil collectors and scientists. These massive sharks lived millions of years ago, and their teeth are among the most recognizable fossils worldwide. The ones in this auction were discovered off the coast of North Carolina.
“There’s no real difference between polished and unpolished teeth,” said Sarah. “It’s just about personal preference and how collectors want to display them.”
Auction House Learning Curve
Since Jones Auction House specializes in art, handling prehistoric fossils required some learning. Sarah admitted they had to study the species, understand how the fossils are categorized, and learn how to measure and value the teeth.
“We usually talk about paintings, not ancient sharks,” she said. “But learning about these teeth has been an exciting challenge.”
More to Come?
Depending on how this auction goes, the siblings may work with the collector again to sell more megalodon teeth in the future.
The auction also features paintings by Maud Lewis, Christopher Pratt, and Molly Lamb Bobak, along with luxury accessories from brands like Rolex and Versace. Each megalodon tooth is sold separately, but a single buyer could win them all with the highest bids.
Bidding closes on March 30 at 6 p.m.
