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In Batman #1 in the New 52, when we visit the Batcave for the first time, we see a dinosaur:

full page
close up on the panel

What... is up with that? It is a completely awesome cave decoration - but what else is it? Is it a non sequitur or is it a call back to an earlier storyline? I imagine it's the latter - a life-size T-rex model is an expensive piece of decor, even for Bruce Wayne.

Bonus points: are there any other relics from past storylines visible in this Batcave?

Update: here's a shot of the other panel that gives us a view of the "showroom" (including the huge dice).

HOLY HUGE DICE, BATMAN

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n.b.: I am totally new to comics, if that's not clear from this question. Hope it is not too n00b-y. – Abby T. Miller♦ Jan 11 '12 at 14:33
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The real question is, why WOULDN'T you have a have a dinosaur in a Batcave? Who doesn't like fresh dinosaur eggs, laced with unmetabolized excess hallucinogens, with their coffee? – DavRob60 Jan 11 '12 at 14:43
That appears to be a show room. It's likely a model for scientific interest...though entirely out of place considering the other exhibits. I suppose the giant stone dice are a bit out of place too though. But Batman's an engineer, not an interior decorator. – Ben Brocka Jan 11 '12 at 14:49
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@BenBrocka: The giant Joker card and humungous penny are interesting too. – gnovice Jan 11 '12 at 14:55
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Why would you have a showroom in your SECRET batcave? – JamesRyan Jan 11 '12 at 18:07
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2 Answers

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From Wikipedia:

The cave stores unique memorabilia items collected from the various cases Batman has worked. Originally, these were stored in a room designed just for them; it was explained that Batman and Robin took one memento from each case. Later, the trophies were shown to be in the large main area of the cave, residing among the rest of the Batcave's furnishings.

The most famous and prevalently featured are a full-size animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex, a giant Lincoln penny, and an oversized Joker playing card. The T. Rex comes from an adventure on "Dinosaur Island" (Batman #35, 1946); the penny was originally a trophy from Batman's encounter with a penny-obsessed villain named the Penny Plunderer (World's Finest Comics #30, 1947). Other "keepsakes" in the cave come from "The Thousand and One Trophies of Batman!" (Detective Comics #158, 1950). These three stories were reprinted in Batman #256.

Other pieces often shown in the Batcave are Two-Face's original coin, Deathstroke's sword (the owner of which Batman has fought at least twice), the shroud of the vampiric Monk, and over-sized ten-pins.

He has also had Fries' original freeze gun, a piece of kryptonite, and old partner costumes.

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I think the Robin costume in the case is Jason Todd’s. So he keeps his dead partner’s costume in a case. Nice touch there, Bats. Nice touch. – Paul D. Waite Dec 7 '12 at 13:10
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The T-Rex comes Batman #35 (June, 1946). "Batman and Robin are challenged to a game of "Touch Hunt" on famed Dinosaur Island in return for a gift to charity in the amount of $5000.....if they win the game. But they soon discover that they are the prey being hunted....by a very human adversary!" (source)

Dinosaur Island was an amusement park filled with robotic dinosaurs.

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