Virgil M. Brand (1862-1926)
Viril M. Brand of Illinois was the heir to a large fortune stemming from his father’s foundation of the Michael Brand & Company brewery. Subsequently, Virgil became president of the United States Brewing Company, and in 1899 he established the Brand Brewing Company.
Brand began collecting coins in 1879, and kept a manuscript of his acquisitions beginning in 1899. By his death in 1926, Brand had acquired some 350,000 pieces comprising ancient, world and U.S. coinage.
Brand was active in the numismatic world, contributing to scholarship, such as with his article “The Objects of Coin Collecting,” published in the Numismatist in May 1905 and to the community through his work with Chicago Numismatic Society. Brand was one of the most important American numismatists of his age, rivaling (and often outbidding) J.P. Morgan at a number of important sales.
Brand's collection was largely sold by Sotheby's in a number of parts in the 1980's
Brand began collecting coins in 1879, and kept a manuscript of his acquisitions beginning in 1899. By his death in 1926, Brand had acquired some 350,000 pieces comprising ancient, world and U.S. coinage.
Brand was active in the numismatic world, contributing to scholarship, such as with his article “The Objects of Coin Collecting,” published in the Numismatist in May 1905 and to the community through his work with Chicago Numismatic Society. Brand was one of the most important American numismatists of his age, rivaling (and often outbidding) J.P. Morgan at a number of important sales.
Brand's collection was largely sold by Sotheby's in a number of parts in the 1980's
Biblio.: Q. David Bowers, Virgil Brand: the man and his era. Profile of a numismatist, Wolfeboro NH 1983; https://www.pinterest.com/pin/433893745337139827/