Born in Blue Island, Illinois. The family moved to Chicago where his father established the Michael Brand & Company Brewery. Graduated from Bryant and Stratton College in Chicago. Never married.

Employed as a bookkeeper. Brand's father appointed him secretary treasurer of the brewery with one tenth ownership. He became the first president of the United States Brewing Company. In 1899 Brand established the Brand Brewing Company.

Brand began to collect coins about 1889. He was a charter member of the Chicago Numismatic Society and served as librarian and curator. He was president of the Chicago Numismatic Society for 1908 to 1909. At his death the collection included over 350,000 pieces. He died at home in Chicago. The Brand paper money collection was purchased by B. Max Mehl and offered for sale in 1932. Brand coins and library were included in at least 13 auction sales. The last were conducted by Bowers and Merena in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

In 2005 he was inducted into the CWTS Hall of Fame and in 2019 to the CCC Hall of Fame.

obit: NUM 39 Aug 1926 pages 439-440, 449; ANAHist 400

see: Virgil Brand: The Man and His Era