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NWA 16788, a 24.67-kilogram Martian meteorite, sold at Sotheby’s in New York on July 16, 2025. Its hammer price was $4.3 million; the total was about $5.3 million after fees. The result exceeded Sotheby’s $2 million–$4 million estimate, but the sale is not a reliable formula for valuing other meteorites: this was an unusually large, singular specimen, and no systematic price series establishes a typical market value.
What is NWA 16788?
NWA 16788 is an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite—a meteorite that originated on Mars and was found in the Sahara in November 2023. The 2025 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference abstract reports an approximate total mass of 24.6 kilograms; Sotheby’s auction catalog lists the specimen at 24.67 kilograms and gives its discovery location as the Agadez Region (Kefkaf), Niger.
Sotheby’s describes its reddish-brown fusion crust, surface depressions called regmaglypts, and minimal terrestrial weathering. Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice chairman for science and natural history, told Space.com, “It also looks just like the surface of the Red Planet.”
Why is it considered a record-setting specimen?
Sotheby’s listed the meteorite’s dimensions as 374.7 × 279.4 × 152.4 millimeters and said it was about 70% larger than the next-largest known piece of Mars found on Earth. The auction house also said NWA 16788 represents approximately 6.5% of the Martian material then known on Earth. Those rarity figures are Sotheby’s catalog claims, not an independently verified current census.
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- GENUINE MARTIAN METEORITE: Each display features a real, authentic specimen of a Martian meteorite—rare material ejected from the surface of Mars by ancient impacts that eventually landed on Earth.
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For context, Sotheby’s catalog said that about 400 of more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites were Martian. The unusual size helps explain the attention on this lot, but a record auction result for one exceptional specimen does not establish what a different Martian meteorite—or a small fragment—would be worth.
How much did NWA 16788 sell for?
Sotheby’s offered the lot in New York on July 16, 2025, with an estimate of $2 million to $4 million. Space.com reported a $4.3 million hammer price, meaning the winning bid before buyer’s fees, and about $5.3 million including fees. The Associated Press described the sale as more than $5 million. These figures refer to different ways of stating the transaction total, not necessarily conflicting results.
Rank #2
- Own a Genuine Piece of Mars: This authentic Martian meteorite was ejected from the surface of Mars by a cosmic impact and traveled millions of miles through space before landing on Earth.
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The sale price is not a general market benchmark. The available reporting does not establish a systematic series of Martian meteorite sales from which to calculate typical values, and this specimen’s size and rarity make it a poor stand-in for other pieces.
What did the scientific analysis find?
A 2025 conference abstract by Shehaj, Pratesi, and Ammannito describes NWA 16788 as having a cumulate texture and mineral proportions measured in the studied material. The reported composition was:
Rank #3
- Martian Meteorite
- Rock from Mars
- High quality
- Includes certificate of authenticity
| Mineral or phase | Reported volume |
|---|---|
| Pyroxene | 61.1 vol.% |
| Maskelynite | 21.2 vol.% |
| Olivine | 15.3 vol.% |
| Phosphates | 1.4 vol.% |
| Iron-chromium-titanium oxides | 0.8 vol.% |
| Pyrrhotite | 0.2 vol.% |
The abstract also reports a poikilitic texture: olivine crystals, called chadacrysts, are enclosed by larger pyroxene crystals, called oikocrysts. The authors place the meteorite’s petrography between gabbroic and poikilitic shergottites, suggesting existing categories may not fully capture its texture. These findings describe the study reported in the abstract; they should not be read as evidence that the entire meteorite was destructively analyzed.
The conference abstract is available from the 2025 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
Rank #4
- ✅ Amgala 001 Martian meteorite (shergottite) specimen with themed shadow box display frame, found in Western Sahara 2022, genuine mars rock fragment.
Why did Niger investigate the sale?
After the auction, Niger opened an investigation amid officials’ concerns about possible illicit international trafficking, according to the Associated Press. Sotheby’s told the AP that the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported according to relevant international procedures, and that required documentation was in order. The competing positions do not by themselves settle whether the export was lawful.
The AP also reported that any legal recovery would depend on evidence concerning Niger’s ownership and whether the specimen was stolen. The reporting does not establish a final legal determination that the meteorite was either illicitly exported or lawfully removed.
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- Elegant Book-Shaped Outer Box with Impact Design – Housed in a premium book-style gift box featuring a striking meteorite impact artwork on the cover. The sophisticated presentation instantly conveys the wonder of celestial discovery, making it perfect for gifting or display.
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- Includes Handheld Magnifying Glass for Detailed Observation – A high-quality magnifying glass is included, enabling you to examine the intricate fusion crust, metallic flakes, and unique surface textures up close – transforming the experience into an interactive journey through cosmic history.
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What is the reported current legal status?
A Wikipedia entry last edited September 24, 2026, reports that U.S. authorities seized NWA 16788 on July 16, 2026, and were preparing a forfeiture action. That entry cites a U.S. Attorney’s social-media announcement and a New York Times report, but the primary records were not accessible for confirmation. Treat the seizure and planned action as reported developments rather than a verified final legal outcome. See the entry for the account and its cited references.
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