Later this month, Sotheby’s will offer NWA 16788, the largest known piece of Mars on Earth, during its Natural History sale in New York. Weighing a staggering 54 pounds (24.67 kg), this exceptional specimen is expected to fetch between $2 million and $4 million, making it the most valuable meteorite ever offered at auction.
“NWA 16788 is a discovery of extraordinary significance — the largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth, and the most valuable of its kind ever offered at auction. Weathered by its journey through space and time, its immense size and unmistakable red color sets it apart as a once-in-a-generation find. This remarkable meteorite provides a tangible connection to the red planet — our celestial neighbor that has long captured the human imagination.”
Cassandra Hatton, Vice Chairman, Science & Natural History, Sotheby’s
Discovered on November 16th, 2023, by a meteorite hunter in the remote Agadez region of Niger, NWA 16788 is approximately 70% larger than any other known Martian fragment. Its deep Martian-red hue and glassy surface are the result of a powerful asteroid impact that ejected it from the Red Planet’s surface—so intense, in fact, that it transformed some minerals into glass. Traces of fusion crust on its surface mark its fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere before it crash-landed in the Sahara Desert.
Meteorites like NWA 16788 provide rare and vital insights into Martian geology, offering scientists tangible data about the planet’s composition and history. Even rarer than diamonds, meteorite discoveries are scarce: North America averages only about 15 finds a year, often small and located in arid regions. Of the more than 77,000 officially classified meteorites, only about 400 originate from Mars—and most are just fragments.
*NWA 16788* has been authenticated by The Meteoritical Society and published in the 113th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin, the global scientific journal of record for meteorite classification. Before arriving at Sotheby’s, the meteorite was publicly exhibited at the Italian Space Agency in Rome during the 2024 European Researchers’ Night and at a private gallery in Arezzo, Tuscany.
The live auction takes place on July 16th at Sotheby’s New York.
Exhibition: 8th-15th July, Sotheby’s New York
*At present, there are 400 officially classified Martian meteorites on Earth, with a combined total weight of roughly 825 pounds (374 kg). NWA 16788 therefore accounts for 6.59% of all Martian material ever found. Sotheby’s will be accepting cryptocurrency as payment for this lot, please see our online catalogue for more details.
