Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

December 31, 2016	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		4,905,568		$	5,910,175,908		$	5,210,940,144		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		3,036,655			3,784,339,342			3,784,339,342			—
Gold bullion distributed		(1,618,237	)		(1,968,318,439	)		(1,992,755,088	)		24,436,649
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(15,924	)		(19,273,468	)		(19,905,623	)		632,155
Net realized gain		—			—			25,068,804			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			303,987,270			—
Ending balance		6,308,062		$	7,706,923,343		$	7,311,674,849		$	25,068,804

December 31, 2015	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		5,182,164		$	6,254,868,124		$	6,214,710,412		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		696,554			830,130,993			830,130,993			—
Gold bullion distributed		(959,873	)		(1,158,780,335	)		(1,071,599,347	)		(87,180,988	)
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(13,277	)		(16,042,874	)		(15,431,681	)		(611,193	)
Net realized loss		—			—			(87,792,181	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(659,078,052	)		—
Ending balance		4,905,568		$	5,910,175,908		$	5,210,940,144		$	(87,792,181	)

December 31, 2014	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		5,220,493		$	6,272,422,250		$	6,272,422,250		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		466,018			590,756,513			590,756,513			—
Gold bullion distributed		(491,071	)		(592,311,684	)		(605,981,738	)		13,670,054
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(13,276	)		(15,998,955	)		(16,697,643	)		698,688
Net realized gain		—			—			14,368,742			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(40,157,712	)		—
Ending balance		5,182,164		$	6,254,868,124		$	6,214,710,412		$	14,368,742

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2016						2015						2014
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued		314,850,000		$	3,784,339,342			72,050,000		$	830,130,993			48,100,000		$	590,756,513
Shares redeemed		(167,950,000	)		(1,992,755,088	)		(99,350,000	)		(1,071,599,347	)		(50,700,000	)		(605,981,738	)
Net increase (decrease)		146,900,000		$	1,791,584,254			(27,300,000	)	$	(241,468,354	)		(2,600,000	)	$	(15,225,225	)