Unique find! Partial Triceratops Skull! Thoughts Welcome!

[DitraFossil]

Good morning fellow fossil hunters. I have the opportunity to purchase a partial triceratops skull. Below please find the photos. It allegedly has 15-20% restoration and is from Hell Creek. Here are the dimensions: from the top to the back of frill it is 39 inches, and the horns are 23 inches measuring from the inside. It’s 21 inches across and weighs about 100 pounds. It was found by a friend of a friend. 
 

Questions: how does it look to you? Is it a juvenile, as the size seems somewhat small to me, but perhaps that is because it is only a partial skull? It is quite expensive so, I wanted to get the thoughts of the forum first!

Edited March 18, 2023 by DitraFossil

[Troodon]

It's probably a juvenile.  Do you have a location where it was found?  You need to ask specifically what resto has been since photos only go so far.  15 to 20 is meaningless if all the key elements were added.

Having said that one the big elements in a partial skull like this are the horns and one that probably adds a significant amount to the sale.  Unfortunately I see lots of resto on both see red circles.  One appears almost completely restored while the other to the tip.  In addition its very poorly done and should be redone.   It's a cool piece.

 

 

Looks resto but others areas have some

 

 

[Jurassicbro238]

Really neat piece! Though I would hesitate in calling it a triceratops as there are others that are found like Torosaurus. They're distinguished by the shape of the frill only

[jpc]

I saw the same horn restoration troodon saw and agree with the points he has made.  

[DitraFossil]

Thanks guys! Per the gentlemen who found it, and restored it: “the tips of both horns are restored about 7 inches, and no paint was used.” Further thoughts?

[Troodon]

What can I tell you, his resto work on the one points to something different than what he said   Saying no paint was used is not a positive.  You don't need experts to see the resto work, look for yourself the smooth shiny texture on the first photo I posted.  That's not bone but whatever material he used to shape it.

. 

Edited March 18, 2023 by Troodon

[Phos_01]

On 3/18/2023 at 6:07 PM, DitraFossil said:

Thanks guys! Per the gentlemen who found it, and restored it: “the tips of both horns are restored about 7 inches, and no paint was used.” Further thoughts?

Very cool piece, not something you see everyday, and nice that you bought it. 

 

Try lighting it up with a good UV light at night, that could reveal more. the 'Convoy C8' is a very good one, I bought mine online at a big onlineshop.

Usually a fossil like this magnitude, the seller will have these UV photos, or before resto photos. 

Paint will be needed to match the exact original color is my guess. 

 

I would also try to get in contact with the black hills institute to make a nice base for it to put it on the neat display it deserves.

 

Thanks for sharing