Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Stockholders Equity [Table Text Block]

	Balance at December 31, 2013		ASU 2013-08 Transition Adjustment			Balance at January 1, 2014
Redeemable capital Shares	$	6,271,029	$	(6,271,029	)	$	—
Shareholders’ equity	$	—	$	6,271,029		$	6,271,029

Activity in Gold Buillion [Table Text Block]

December 31, 2015	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		5,182.2		$	6,254,868		$	6,214,710		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		696.6			830,131			830,131			—
Gold bullion distributed		(959.9	)		(1,158,780	)		(1,071,599	)		(87,181	)
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(13.3	)		(16,043	)		(15,432	)		(611	)
Net realized loss on gold bullion		—			—			(87,792	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investment in gold bullion		—			—			(659,078	)		—
Ending balance		4,905.6		$	5,910,176		$	5,210,940		$	(87,792	)

December 31, 2014	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		5,220.5		$	6,272,422		$	6,272,422		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		466.0			590,757			590,757			—
Gold bullion distributed		(491.0	)		(592,312	)		(605,982	)		13,670
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(13.3	)		(15,999	)		(16,698	)		699
Net realized gain on gold bullion		—			—			14,369			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investment in gold bullion		—			—			(40,158	)		—
Ending balance		5,182.2		$	6,254,868		$	6,214,710		$	14,369

December 31, 2013	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		6,999.9		$	9,315,055		$	11,647,783		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		614.6			928,370			928,370			—
Gold bullion distributed		(2,378.2	)		(3,199,151	)		(3,341,845	)		142,694
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(15.8	)		(21,261	)		(22,834	)		1,573
Adjustment to gold bullion inventory(a)		—			(750,591	)		—			—
Adjustment for realized gain on gold bullion		—			—			144,267			—
Adjustment for unrealized loss on gold bullion		—			—			(3,083,319	)		—
Ending balance		5,220.5		$	6,272,422		$	6,272,422		$	144,267

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	Years Ended December 31,
	2015						2014
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued		72,050		$	830,131			48,100		$	590,757
Shares redeemed		(99,350	)		(1,071,599	)		(50,700	)		(605,982	)
Net decrease		(27,300	)	$	(241,468	)		(2,600	)	$	(15,225	)

Temporary Equity [Table Text Block]

	Year ended December 31, 2013
	Shares			Amount
Beginning balance		719,550		$	11,645,298
Shares issued		63,250			928,370
Shares redeemed		(244,800	)		(3,341,845	)
Redemption value adjustment		—			(2,960,794	)
Ending balance		538,000		$	6,271,029