Why did handbooks for beginner coin collectors appear in the 19th century?

Handbooks for beginner coin collectors began to appear in the 19th century primarily because the hobby experienced a dramatic increase in the number of private collectors during that period.1

As coin collecting transitioned from a pursuit largely reserved for the wealthy into a popular hobby for the general public, the scope of collecting broadened beyond ancient coins to include coins from around the world. This surge in interest led to the formation of numismatic societies across Britain, Europe, and the United States, as well as the emergence of specialized periodicals. To support this growing community of new advocates and the increasingly prosperous industry surrounding them, instructional handbooks were developed to guide novices through the expanding field.1