Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, ancient coin collecting became termed "the hobby of kings" as it was only nobility that could afford the coins. As time progressed, coin collecting became a more serious pursuit and the 17th century saw broad collections formed, studied and cataloged.
It was during the 18th century that the involvement of institutions and the rise of public collections led to academic research, elevating numismatics to a level of science. The 19th century brought an onslaught of private coin collectors, which helped broaden the scope of collecting and turn it into a popular hobby. Numismatic societies with all ranks of the general public were formed across Europe and the United States.
Coin collecting became even more popular in the 20th century. Coin shows came into being, along with numismatic conventions, international conferences, and academic meetings. In 1962, the first international convention of coin collectors was held in Detroit, Michigan and approximately 40,000 people were in attendance. Today, coin collecting conventions throughout the world offer a platform for numismatists to meet and discuss coins. With the advent of the internet, coin collecting has created an online community where coin enthusiasts can internationally share information through forums and blogs.