Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses	$ 27,290,381	$ 21,077,170	$ 19,905,623
Expenses – Sponsor’s fees paid	(27,290,381)	(21,077,170)	(19,905,623)
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	(198,122,480)	881,863,362	308,743,920
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	27,290,381	21,077,170	19,905,623
Net realized (gain) loss	(23,491,426)	(22,215,914)	(25,068,804)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation	194,080,795	(881,278,079)	(303,987,270)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Sponsor’s fees payable	242,730	553,461	406,531
Net cash provided by operating activities	0	0	0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:
Gold bullion contributed for Shares issued	3,078,649,161	2,782,113,163	3,784,339,342
Gold bullion distributed for Shares redeemed	$ (1,483,295,672)	$ (826,600,408)	$ (1,992,755,088)