How to Start a Megalodon Tooth Collection | Fossil Driven

How to Start a Megalodon Tooth Collection: A Quick Guide

Very few fossils capture the imagination quite like a fossil Megalodon tooth. A fossil from the largest predatory shark that ever existed. Holding one is just an all-around awesome feeling, a piece of ancient ocean history that’s survived millions of years beneath the seafloor.

Whether you’ve been fascinated by these prehistoric predators since childhood, early high school years (like me), or recently developed an interest in fossil collecting, starting a Megalodon tooth collection is a great way to connect with the past, learn about marine paleontology, and build a fossil collection or display that tells a cool and unique story.

For new collectors, the easiest way to start is by choosing a verified specimen from a trusted source. You can explore our curated selection of authentic Megalodon teeth for sale to see different sizes, colors, and price points suitable for beginners.

So, What Makes a Megalodon Tooth Special?

Otodus megalodon (often historically referred to as Carcharocles megalodon) lived roughly 3 to 15 million years ago, dominating the oceans as the largest predatory shark to exist. Adult Megalodon sharks are estimated to have reached 50–60 feet in length (80 now if you follow the recent paleontology news), with teeth measuring up to 7-inches, which is roughly the size of your hand.

What makes these fossils so collectible isn’t just their size, but their incredible variation in color, preservation, and locality. Each tooth tells a unique story about the region it came from, whether it’s a colorful Bone Valley specimen from Florida, a black phosphate-coated river tooth from South Carolina, or a massive Indonesian find with rich mineral hues. They also don't take up a lot of space, so they are easy to display in a cabinet, coffee table, or even in a display case on your shelf. Some even collect them as an investment (this is not financial advice; I'm just sharing how some people collect), especially for megalodon teeth that have a rare locality. 

💡 Collector Tip: Tooth color is determined by the minerals in the surrounding sediment. That’s why Bone Valley teeth can show white, blue, or even green tones, while Georgia and South Carolina teeth tend to have darker & lighter browns, grays, and blacks.

Decide What Kind of Collection You Want

There’s no wrong way to collect Megalodon teeth; your approach can be as scientific, aesthetic, or adventurous as you want. For myself, I love to collect Florida localities, small, high-quality specimens, large, pristine teeth, pathological teeth, and teeth that have self-inflicting bite marks on them. Each collection has a different story behind it. I collect Florida megalodon teeth because I grew up and still live in Florida. So, I figured it would be cool to collect every Florida locality. Smaller high-quality specimens take up less space and are somewhat more uncommon. Large and pristine teeth will always fetch and hold a higher dollar amount. So, for me, they are an investment. Especially if I can get megalodon teeth from a rare location. Pathological teeth are just funky, and I love showing off how teeth can have different forms of pathologies. Last, self-inflicting bite-marked teeth always tell a cool and unique story of how the megalodon shark preyed on whales and other large mammals.

Many collectors also prefer to buy a Megalodon tooth that fits a specific theme, such as size, locality, or color, rather than collecting randomly.

With all that being said, here are a few other popular collection types:

• By Size: Focus on building a lineup of increasing tooth sizes (from small juveniles to rare 5” - 6” giants). Just be aware that the bigger and more pristine the teeth, the more expensive and often rarer they can get. Depending on the location of the megalodon tooth, of course.
• By Locality: Collect specimens from famous sites throughout Florida, South Carolina’s rivers, Georgia, or go beyond the United States and focus on rare locations like Australia, France, and Belgium. The choice is yours. The megalodon shark was just about everywhere, and you can find their teeth in just about every continent around the world.

If you want to learn more about where you can find megalodon teeth, check out our Where Are Megalodon Teeth Found, article.

• By Color: Many collectors love assembling a “color wheel” of Bone Valley teeth. Especially since they produce so many unique colors. Or perhaps another locality with super colorful megalodon teeth, like Indonesia or Peru. For myself, I love collecting teeth with wild color patterns. They just stand out more than a typical gray or black tooth. But that's just my personal collecting style.

If you're wondering how teeth come in so many shades, see our other blog, Why Do Fossil Shark Teeth Come In So Many Colors?

• By Evolution: Include Megalodon’s ancestors and relatives, Otodus chubutensis, Otodus angustidens, Otodus auriculatus, and Otodus obliquus, to show the lineage progression. Below is a beautiful display by Kendall Borchers showing the evolution of the megalodon shark.

If you want to learn more about how these sharks evolved, check out our blog article! The Evolution and Extinction of the Megalodon Shark.

🧭 Fossil Driven Tip: Start small but with purpose. One quality tooth with accurate data (location, age, and species) adds more value to your collection than several lower-quality ones with similar data. Unless, of course, you like the ones with more character.

Learn How to Identify Authentic Teeth

Unfortunately, the popularity of Megalodon teeth means replicas and fakes are common. Especially with the introduction of 3D printing and scanning. However, a 3D printed fossil can be easier to spot than you would think. Especially to the trained eye. Here are some tips on how to spot the real deal:

✅ Look for natural wear: Authentic fossils often have pitting, mineral inclusions, or minor chips.
✅ Inspect serrations: Real Megalodon teeth have fine, sharp serrations that taper evenly toward the tip if not completely worn down.
✅ Check the root texture: Genuine roots are porous and mineralized, not perfectly smooth.
✅ Weight: Unless it’s poorly made out of some clay or crafting material, real megalodon teeth will often weigh a lot more than fakes. That’s if you have the ability to weigh a tooth in person.

✅ Layer Lines: With 3D printed fossils, you can easily tell that they are fake due to the layer lines 3D printers produce.

If you’re unsure, buy only from reputable fossil dealers (like Fossil Driven) who provide guaranteed authenticity and accurate locality information (shameless plug, I know). This is especially important when purchasing online, where choosing authentic fossil Megalodon teeth with documented locality and condition protects both your collection and your investment.

If you want to dive deeper into how to spot fakes and replicas, check out our other blog article: How to spot repaired and restored megalodon teeth.

Know Where Megalodon Teeth Are Found

Understanding where teeth come from can help you appreciate their uniqueness, and sometimes, even find your own. It also helps you determine if certain localities may be legitimate or not. Always do your research beforehand, especially if a locality sounds… unrealistic. Like megalodon teeth being found in a Montana cave, as an example (yes, someone tried doing this once).

Some of the world’s best-known Megalodon fossil sites include:

• Peace River, Florida: Known for glossy phosphate-coated teeth in shades of black, gray, and brown.
• Bone Valley, Florida: Famous for bright blue, white, orange, and green specimens, all of which are highly collectible and cost a pretty penny.
• Wilmington, North Carolina: Home to large ocean megalodon teeth. These are great for folks who are just getting into collecting.
• Beaufort, South Carolina: Produces darker river teeth with excellent serrations. Often found in rivers and intercoastal waterways with little to no visibility.
• Indonesia (Java): Known for massive, colorful specimens with rare mineralization.
• Savannah, Georgia: Another locality that produces lighter and darker river teeth with sometimes killer preservation. These megalodon teeth are also found in rivers and intercoastal waterways with little to no visibility.

🌊 Pro Tip: Always check local collecting laws before digging or diving. Some areas require permits, and private land collecting always needs permission. No felony or fine is worth the cost of a megalodon tooth.

Display and Store Your Collection

Once you start collecting, presentation and preservation are key:

• Use acrylic stands, custom shadow or display boxes, or custom 3D-printed holders for display.
• Maintain moderate humidity (40–60%) to avoid cracking. This should be easy if you have your megalodon teeth in an air-conditioned home year-round.
• For high-value pieces, use UV-resistant display cases and include labels with species name, age, and locality. Labels are important, and it’s something that we always offer at Fossil Driven.

💡 Display Idea: Create a “collector’s plaque” showcasing your top five specimens, with printed labels and backlighting to bring out color variation.

Continue Learning and Expanding

As your collection grows, so will your curiosity. Consider expanding into other megatooth species or complementary fossils like Hemipristis (Snaggletooth Shark), Mako, or even marine mammal fossils that Megalodon may have preyed upon.

Join online fossil groups, attend fossil shows, or visit local markets like the Clermont Farmers Market (another shameless plug), where you can meet fellow collectors and share your fossil finds and stories. The community aspect of fossil collecting is one of the most rewarding parts of the hobby, especially when you find those groups who absolutely love everything about fossil collecting.

Wrapping Up

Building a Megalodon tooth collection isn’t just about ownership; it’s about discovery, connection, and appreciation for an apex predator that once swam our oceans. Each tooth that you add to your collection adds a piece of prehistoric history to your shelf, telling a story that began millions of years ago beneath the waves. Whether you’re just starting or adding to an existing collection, just remember that authenticity, care, and curiosity are what truly make a collection valuable.

Explore a curated selection of authentic Megalodon and fossil shark teeth at Fossil Driven, where every specimen is hand-selected, guaranteed authentic, and ready to be the next centerpiece of your collection.

Written by: Brandon Zulli, owner of Fossildriven.com