THOUSAND OAKS : Collector of Proof Gold Coins Dies

Ed Trompeter, who assembled what many consider to be the world’s finest collection of proof United States gold coins, has died of cancer at his Thousand Oaks home. He was 73.

Trompeter died March 18, less than a month after 209 coins in his collection were auctioned for nearly $4 million, said Ira Goldberg, co-president of Superior Galleries in Beverly Hills.

The remainder of his collection, including a 1907 $20 gold coin known as an ultra-high-relief, is planned to be sold at an Oct. 13 auction expected to gather more than $10 million, Goldberg said.

Born in New York City, Trompeter served as a radioman on the aircraft carrier Enterprise during World War II. After he was discharged, he joined the Federal Communications Commission’s television division and later worked as a civilian at the Point Mugu Naval Air Missile Test Center.

Trompeter used his knowledge of television and missile testing technology to form Trompeter Electronics in Westlake Village, which he sold two years ago. The company specializes in digital electronic connectors used to relay information in television stations, aircraft, telephone systems and the Patriot missiles used during the Persian Gulf War.

His interest in coin collecting began in the early 1970s and, after doing research, he decided to collect proof gold coins. Knowing that he had terminal cancer, Trompeter recently decided to sell his collection.

He is survived by two daughters and three grandchildren. Details of the funeral were not released.