Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses	$ 21,077,170	$ 19,905,623	$ 15,431,681
Expenses – Sponsor’s fees paid	(21,077,170)	(19,905,623)	(15,431,681)
Net cash provided by operating activities	0	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash	0	0	0
Cash, beginning of year	0	0	0
Cash, end of year	0	0	0
Reconciliation of Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations	881,863,362	308,743,920	(762,115,999)
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses	21,077,170	19,905,623	15,431,681
Net realized (gain) loss	(22,215,914)	(25,068,804)	87,792,181
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation	(881,278,079)	(303,987,270)	659,078,052
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Sponsor’s fees payable	553,461	406,531	(185,915)
Net cash provided by operating activities	0	0	0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:
Gold bullion contributed for Shares issued	2,782,113,163	3,784,339,342	830,130,993
Gold bullion distributed for Shares redeemed	$ (826,600,408)	$ (1,992,755,088)	$ (1,071,599,347)