Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

December 31, 2018	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		7,828,465		$	9,663,574,842		$	10,149,604,427		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		2,370,108			3,078,649,161			3,078,649,161			—
Gold bullion distributed		(1,167,483	)		(1,460,213,703	)		(1,483,295,672	)		23,081,969
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(21,549	)		(26,880,924	)		(27,290,381	)		409,457
Net realized gain		—			—			23,491,426			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(194,080,795	)		—
Ending balance		9,009,541		$	11,255,129,376		$	11,547,078,166		$	23,491,426

December 31, 2017	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		6,308,062		$	7,706,923,343		$	7,311,674,849		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		2,194,645			2,782,113,163			2,782,113,163			—
Gold bullion distributed		(657,409	)		(804,830,293	)		(826,600,408	)		21,770,115
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(16,833	)		(20,631,371	)		(21,077,170	)		445,799
Net realized gain		—			—			22,215,914			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			881,278,079			—
Ending balance		7,828,465		$	9,663,574,842		$	10,149,604,427		$	22,215,914

December 31, 2016	Ounces			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

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2018						2017						2016
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued		247,000,000		$	3,078,649,161			228,250,000		$	2,782,113,163			314,850,000		$	3,784,339,342
Shares redeemed		(121,700,000	)		(1,483,295,672	)		(68,350,000	)		(826,600,408	)		(167,950,000	)		(1,992,755,088	)
Net increase		125,300,000		$	1,595,353,489			159,900,000		$	1,955,512,755			146,900,000		$	1,791,584,254