Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		6,762,892		$	8,277,677,317		$	8,401,202,679		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		829,112			1,067,933,923			1,067,933,923			—
Gold bullion distributed		(239,388	)		(293,375,991	)		(307,829,659	)		14,453,668
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(4,221	)		(5,172,020	)		(5,376,124	)		204,104
Net realized gain		—			—			14,657,772			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			258,137,498			—
Ending balance		7,348,395		$	9,047,063,229		$	9,428,726,089		$	14,657,772

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016	Ounces			Average Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		6,692,964		$	8,091,223,134		$	8,839,732,130		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		673,745			902,311,073			902,311,073			—
Gold bullion distributed		(74,677	)		(91,045,362	)		(97,703,025	)		6,657,663
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(4,247	)		(5,162,864	)		(5,657,843	)		494,979
Net realized gain		—			—			7,152,642			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(7,738,711	)		—
Ending balance		7,287,785		$	8,897,325,981		$	9,638,096,266		$	7,152,642

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017	Ounces			A verage Cost			Fa ir Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		6,308,062		$	7,706,923,343		$	7,311,674,849		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		1,634,973			2,067,477,206			2,067,477,206			—
Gold bullion distributed		(582,465	)		(712,447,813	)		(731,446,104	)		18,998,291
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(12,175	)		(14,889,507	)		(15,136,183	)		246,676
Net realized gain		—			—			19,244,967			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			776,911,354			—
Ending balance		7,348,395		$	9,047,063,229		$	9,428,726,089		$	19,244,967

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016	Ounces			Av erage Cost			F air Value			Re alized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		4,905,568		$	5,910,175,908		$	5,210,940,144		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		2,854,595			3,555,013,884			3,555,013,884			—
Gold bullion distributed		(461,005	)		(554,149,884	)		(570,304,850	)		16,154,966
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(11,373	)		(13,713,927	)		(14,197,999	)		484,072
Net realized gain		—			—			16,639,038			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			1,440,006,049			—
Ending balance		7,287,785		$	8,897,325,981		$	9,638,096,266		$	16,639,038