Megalodon Tooth Collectors
Guide
One of the questions that I am most often asked is "What
should I look for when buying a tooth?" Since the Megalodon
tooth is the most collected fossil, this guide includes information
on what collectors look for when purchasing a Megalodon tooth.
These include Alterations, Shape, Size, Condition and Price.
Alterations!!!
First, when looking for an investment grade tooth,
be sure that the tooth has not been repaired, restored or altered.
Some people are artists and can make alterations that are virtually
undetectable. These teeth are fine if you are looking for a $50
showpiece or an impressive inexpensive gift.
If you are looking for an investment grade tooth
that will cost hundreds of dollars, or more, make sure it is unaltered.
There are only two ways to be sure that you are getting an unaltered
tooth. The first and most practical way is to get it from a trusted
source. The only other way to be sure that your tooth has not
been restored is to find it yourself.
Shape!!!
Some people prefer teeth that have a certain
shape. Just like with human teeth, the shape of a shark tooth
is determined by the tooth’s jaw position. A tooth in the front
of the mouth differs in shape from a tooth towards the back of
the mouth. A tooth in the upper jaw differs in shape from a tooth
in the lower jaw.
At any one time the Megalodon had hundreds of teeth in its massive
mouth. The Megalodon had several rows each of upper and lower
teeth stacked behind each other. When a shark shed a tooth, it
had plenty of other teeth to assist it in eating. Each row could
contain as many as 30 teeth at one time.
 |
Upper Teeth.
Teeth in the upper jaw are wider than lower teeth. |
 |
Lower Teeth
The lower teeth tend to be
narrower than upper teeth.
They have a dagger-like shape
and the root has a deep V shape. |
Megalodon teeth are divided into three categories.
The larger symmetrical teeth towards the front of the mouth are
called Anterior or Principal Teeth. Teeth towards the back of
the mouth are called posterior. These are short wide teeth and
the teeth in between are called lateral teeth and usually have
a curve to them.
|
Anterior teeth
The teeth in the very front
of the Meg’s mouth are anterior teeth. These teeth are wider
and longer and have a symmetrical shape.
Many people collect anterior
teeth because of their shape and size. Many of the larger
teeth are anterior teeth. |
 |
Posterior Teeth
Teeth in the very back of the Megalodon’s
mouth are called posterior teeth and are short wide.
This picture shows a pair of posterior
teeth, one upper and one lower.These are a favorite of
many collectors because of their unusual shape.
|
| |
Lateral Teeth
These teeth sit between the anterior
and posterior teeth.
They are thinner than anterior teeth
and have a curve or hook.
|
Size!!!
Since them most impressive thing about the Megalodon
was it’s MASSIVE size, it only makes sense that many collectors
will prefer larger teeth to smaller teeth.
Megalodon teeth are measured by the diagonal
length of each side. People often do not understand that the mass
of a tooth greatly increases with size. A 5” tooth is not just
an inch longer than a 4” tooth. It can weigh more than twice as
much as the 4” tooth. In addition, the value of similar teeth
increases greatly with size.
|
| The picture above shows a 3” tooth, 4” tooth,
5” tooth and 6” tooth side by side. It is clear that there
is more to the size difference than simply a 1” difference
in length from tooth to tooth. They weigh 1oz. 2 oz. 5oz.
and 15 oz. respectively |
Condition!!!
While some collectors prefer teeth
that are large, many seasoned collectors prefer teeth that are
in top condition. They feel that a perfect tooth regardless of
size will hold its value as a keepsake.
These collectors look at the quality
of the tooth’s enamel, bourrelet, serrations, tip, and root. Each
can add or detract from the value of the tooth.
|
Enamel A smooth, glossy,
complete enamel is the first feature of that many collectors
look at. The enamel comes in several colors. Some collectors
prefer one color over another. The teeth above have brown,
gray and black enamel
|
 |
Root
A complete and perfect root separates a nice tooth from an
exceptional tooth. This tooth has nubs on each side which
is a rare feature in Megalodon Teeth |
| The bourrelet
is the thin triangular band of enamel between the blade and
the root. Because the bourrelet is so thin, very few teeth
have a full bourrelet |
 |
 |
|
Serrations. One
thing that amazes collectors is that millions of years later,
these sharp and delicate serrations remain as sharp as the
blade on a knife. |
Price!!!
As a seller of Shark teeth I know that the only thing harder than
finding a tooth is pricing it. Deciding if one tooth is more valuable
than another can be difficult. What one collector finds desirable
in a tooth another does not. Decide what you want in a tooth and
look at a lot of teeth. You will often find a bargain.
 |
The picture above shows
part of a row of Megalodon teeth.
A full row of teeth would not fit on this 64" stand.
|
