So the display changes to <keep> which would have been a much more exact description than to say the numbers disappear.
And as you don't know what I expect as the "exact" description and I don't know what you mean by "disappear" it is always the easiest way to avoid misunderstandings and doubts by supplying a screenshot that shows the problem.
Just a footnote: the same behaviour should be observable for TITLE as well - or the lyrics.
Why the covers disappear
cannot be answered by selecting multiple tracks unless the all have different embedded pictures - but then it should be noted next to the picture frame that this is the case.