Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

Year Ended December 31, 2019	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		9,009,541		$	11,255,129,376		$	11,547,078,166		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		3,668,032			5,226,042,788			5,226,042,788			—
Gold bullion distributed		(1,075,809	)		(1,355,372,636	)		(1,418,257,979	)		62,885,343
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(24,512	)		(31,125,654	)		(34,028,445	)		2,902,791
Net realized gain		—			—			65,788,134			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			2,245,532,373			—
Ending balance		11,577,252		$	15,094,673,874		$	17,632,155,037		$	65,788,134

Year Ended 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

Year Ended 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

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2019						2018						2017
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued		383,350,000		$	5,226,042,788			247,000,000		$	3,078,649,161			228,250,000		$	2,782,113,163
Shares redeemed		(112,400,000	)		(1,418,257,979	)		(121,700,000	)		(1,483,295,672	)		(68,350,000	)		(826,600,408	)
Net increase		270,950,000		$	3,807,784,809			125,300,000		$	1,595,353,489			159,900,000		$	1,955,512,755