Austen Colgate (right) gives the $5000 check to Andrews in exchange for the famous egg (March 1924) American Museum of Natural History photo #310548 March 1924 by J. Kirschner Anxious for more money to fund a return trip to the Gobi, Andrews hatched a plan to sell one egg in a national auction; he received bids from all over the world. The winning bid of $5000 (= $100,000 today) was made by Colgate Trustee, Col. Austen B. Colgate, who donated the egg to the university in 1924. President Cutten's report of June 6, 1924, notes the egg had given Colgate "some distinction as well as publicity."