2 nearly complete fossilized dinosaur skeletons to be auctioned in NYC for estimated $7M-$9M

In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, photo, a model that recreates the position that two dinosaurs were discovered in is displayed in New York, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. Two fossilized dinosaur skeletons found on a Montana ranch in 2006 are coming up for sale in New York City. The nearly complete skeletons are billed as the Montana Dueling Dinosaurs. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (The Associated Press)

In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, photo, Clayton Phipps points out some features of the nanotyrannus lancensis he discovered while the fossils are on display in New York. Two fossilized dinosaur skeletons found on a Montana ranch in 2006 are coming up for sale in New York City. The nearly complete skeletons are billed as the Montana Dueling Dinosaurs. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (The Associated Press)

Two fossilized dinosaur skeletons found on a Montana ranch in 2006 are going on the auction block in New York City. They're expected to fetch between $7 million and $9 million.

The nearly complete skeletons are billed as the "Montana Dueling Dinosaurs." The sellers say the dinosaurs — one a plant eater, the other a meat eater — appear to be locked in mortal combat.

They're being sold as one lot at Bonhams auction house on Tuesday.

The skeletons were discovered by a fossil hunter on a neighbor's ranch in an area where dinosaurs once roamed.

The sellers believe one may be a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex. The other may be a new species similar to Triceratops.

They hope a philanthropist buys them and donates them to a public institution.