Virgil Brand lived from January 16, 1862 until June 20, 1926. His entire life was spent in the vicinity of Chicago, Illinois. He was employed in the brewery business of his father, the Michael Brand & Company Brewery. He worked into the office of President of the United States Brewing Company and opened his own Brand Brewing Company in 1899. Ten years earlier, he began his coin collecting activities. If numbers of coins is the criteria, Brand formed one of the most extensive collections in this country, numbering approximately 350,000 pieces. After his death, settlement of the Brand Estate took considerable time. In fact, one commentary suggests that an attorney passed the bar, went to work on the Brand Estate, and retired before it was completely settled.