How Are Fossil Megalodon Teeth Priced?
This question is probably one of the most frequently asked questions we get from either new collectors or from people who are just curious. When pricing a fossil megalodon tooth or any fossil shark tooth, it all comes down to location, color, quality, and size. There are other factors involved as well. For example, has the tooth undergone repair or restoration? Is it a pathological tooth or a Hubbell? We will get more in-depth with this further down the page. But first, let's see how to properly measure a fossil megalodon tooth.
Proper Measurement a Fossil Megalodon Tooth
Accurate measurement is crucial in determining the value of a Megalodon tooth. To measure correctly, start from the tip of the tooth and measure diagonally to the longest root lobe, either left or right. This method provides the true length, as opposed to a straight vertical measurement.
Location
The origin of a tooth plays a significant role in its value. Some locations yield more abundant finds, while others are known for their rarity. For example, teeth from the now-closed Lee Creek mine in Aurora, North Carolina, are particularly prized due to their limited availability.
Each location may also produce more of a specific tooth. Over in Morocco, H. mako & C. megalodon teeth are considered rare. While the same teeth are more abundant in the Carolinas & Georgia.
Color
To some collectors, color is everything. Color plays an important role when it comes to pricing a shark tooth. Certain locations can produce a variety of colors, some being more common than others. Each tooth in the picture on the left is from Bone Valley, Florida. Even though they are all from the same location, each tooth is priced differently because of its color. The classic blue enamel and white root is common, while something like the orange tooth is quite rare.
Quality
The overall condition of the tooth encompasses several aspects:
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Serrations: Sharp, well-defined serrations indicate minimal wear and add to the tooth's value.
Root Integrity: An intact root without significant damage or cracks is desirable.
Enamel Condition: Teeth with smooth, lustrous enamel free from peeling or flaking are preferred.
Bourlette Condition: Is the bourlette perfect? What is a bourlette? The bourlette shown in the example picture is the black section between the root and enamel. Most of the time, a fully intact bourlette can make a tooth much more eye-appealing than one that is worn down or chipped. As you can see from the picture below, this tooth has a full and beautiful bourlette.
Size
Size plays a pretty big role when it comes to pricing any kind of shark tooth. The bigger they get, the rarer they become. When it comes to megalodon teeth, the average size and the most common size found seem to be around 5 inches or less. Anything above 5 inches starts to get rare and pricey. Especially when the overall condition is pristine. This size tooth isn't extremely rare, but they aren't common either. When approaching the 6-inch range, that's when things start to get really rare, and if you're hoping to get your hands on a 7-inch tooth, I wish you luck... only a handful have ever been found.
Repair vs. Restoration
Repaired teeth and restored teeth are two different things and both can have an effect on the price of a tooth.
- Repair - Repaired teeth often have pieces that were broken off and glued back into place. The tooth on the left in the picture was split in half and glued back together.
- Restoration - Teeth that are restored often have more work put into them and often have parts reconstructed to make them look nice again. The tooth on the right had its tip broken off, some enamel peel on the display side, along with a big crack going around the left root lobe. As you can see, it doesn't even look like it was broken in the first place.
We go more in-depth on repair in restoration work in another blog article here.
Pathological Teeth
Pathological (deformed) teeth are quite rare. These teeth are often priced depending on their deformity, size, and condition. The deformities can range anywhere from a tooth having multiple tips, shrunken roots, curved tips, and much more. Are they worth more than regular teeth?
It really depends on the personal interest of the collector. Some collectors love pathological teeth while others don’t.
Teeth with Pyrite
Pyrite (fool’s gold) is a mineral that can be found attached to fossil shark teeth. The amount of pyrite on a tooth can vary from being a very small amount on the bourlette, root, or enamel, to heavier deposits. The amount of pyrite and the general condition of the tooth is usually the deciding factor on the overall price of the specimen. Since these teeth are relatively scarce, the price is usually more than your average tooth. Below are some examples of pyrite teeth ranging from a small amount of pyrite to a generous volume.
