Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Redeemable Capital Shares Prescribed Aggregation (in Shares)	50,000
Period For Share Settlement	3 days

Prescribed aggregation at which shares are issued and redeemed.

No definition available.

Name:	iau_RedeemableCapitalSharesPrescribedAggregation
Namespace Prefix:	iau_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant