Antiques Road Trip

Catherine Southon and Philip Serrell travel to the picturesque county of Somerset for the programme’s final auction, marking the culmination of their series of sales. While there, Catherine discovers how Isaac Newton revolutionised coins to frustrate forgers, an innovation aimed at counterfeiting.

The episode follows the regular presenters Catherine Southon and Philip Serrell as they take viewers through another instalment of their auction‑focused series. In this format the pair travel to different locations, assess items and guide the sale process, keeping the programme centred on the world of collecting and the excitement of the final bid. In this particular edition, Catherine and Philip head down to Somerset for what is billed as the final auction of the series. While on location, Catherine uncovers a fascinating historical side‑story: Isaac Newton’s revolutionary changes to coinage, introduced to make forgery much harder. These reforms directly aimed to frustrate counterfeiters. The episode therefore weaves together the contemporary thrill of the Somerset auction with a brief look back at Newton’s lasting influence on monetary security. By highlighting how his innovations frustrated forgers, the show adds an educational layer to the usual auction narrative, giving viewers both the immediacy of the sale and a glimpse of the historical measures that still underpin modern coinage. Overall, the segment showcases how contemporary collecting intersects with historical innovation, reinforcing the idea that today’s auctions are shaped not only by market demand but also by centuries‑old efforts to protect currency integrity.