This Geode Has A Sesame Street Lookalike That Has The Internet Talking

Agate gemstones, while beautiful, don't tend to attract a lot of attention outside of their niche circles. But that was not the case earlier this month, when one example that bears an uncanny resemblance to Sesame Street's Cookie Monster was discovered inside a volcanic rock found near Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, per HuffPost. The region in southern Brazil is known as a "precious stone hotspot," says Live Science. And it turns out being a Sesame Street celebrity doppelganger will not only draw lots of attention — it is also worth a lot of money. The gemstone is now valued by collectors at over $10,000.

Per Global News, the stone was discovered in Brazil by gemologist Lucas Fassari in November 2020, but didn't make waves until earlier this month, when its current owner, the California-based gemologist Mike Bowers, debuted the stone in an online video posted to Facebook. In the video, set to Sesame Street's "'C' is for Cookie" song, he holds a small, egg-shaped rock, which seems unassuming until he splits it open. With its blue insides and unique patterns and crevices, the rock's interior mirrors the sweet-eating monster's big, googly eyes and wide, smiling mouth.

Bowers has said that after seeing the video online, at least five different collectors have offered him upwards of ten grand to purchase the unique stone. "I think this is probably the most perfect Cookie Monster out there. I have seen others but here you have it complete on both sides. This is very unusual. There are a few famous agates out there: the owl, the scared face. There are many approximate ones but it is rare to find one so well defined like this," Bowers said of his possession, according to HuffPost.

The video went viral after it was tweeted out by Muhlenberg College professor and historian Dr. Jacqueline Antonovich, prompting prospective buyers to reach out to Bowers and offer to purchase the stone. As of the time of this writing, Bowers has not decided to sell.

But with all the buzz surrounding the unique gemstone, it's possible he could be offered even more money for the rare find. Even Cookie Monster himself put his two cents in on the matter, retweeting the video on his own account with the caption: "Me no geologist, but me think dat rock look a lot like me..."