And so the chapter on the world's oldest gold traders comes to a close: ScotiaMocatta traces its origins to 1671 and is one of a dozen firms behind the London gold fix. It’s also part of a group of nine banks that sets the silver price in London. And, in light of the ongoing scandal that may have permanently tainted Scotia, preventing it from winning new warehousing business, the fabled history of one of the most venerable precious metal traders is likely to come to an end in the very near future.