Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		14,658,518		$	20,470,354,346		$	25,917,726,586		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		2,187,720			4,165,602,762			4,165,602,762			—
Gold bullion distributed		(176,520	)		(254,187,327	)		(327,658,445	)		73,471,118
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(9,260	)		(13,240,877	)		(17,644,516	)		4,403,639
Net realized gain		—			—			77,874,757			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			1,620,716,613			—
Ending balance		16,660,458		$	24,368,528,904		$	31,436,617,757		$	77,874,757

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		9,474,090		$	11,930,367,963		$	13,348,992,576		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		1,625,180			2,411,110,878			2,411,110,878			—
Gold bullion distributed		(81,313	)		(103,411,024	)		(120,691,118	)		17,280,094
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(5,970	)		(7,578,716	)		(8,641,399	)		1,062,683
Net realized gain		—			—			18,342,777			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			706,990,277			—
Ending balance		11,011,987		$	14,230,489,101		$	16,356,103,991		$	18,342,777

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		11,577,252		$	15,094,673,874		$	17,632,155,037		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		6,096,339			10,646,693,556			10,646,693,556			—
Gold bullion distributed		(988,456	)		(1,338,913,068	)		(1,618,156,723	)		279,243,655
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(24,677	)		(33,925,458	)		(42,623,290	)		8,697,832
Net realized gain		—			—			287,941,487			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			4,530,607,690			—
Ending balance		16,660,458		$	24,368,528,904		$	31,436,617,757		$	287,941,487

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		9,009,541		$	11,255,129,376		$	11,547,078,166		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		2,990,628			4,215,794,689			4,215,794,689			—
Gold bullion distributed		(970,668	)		(1,218,395,838	)		(1,263,373,084	)		44,977,246
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(17,514	)		(22,039,126	)		(23,662,396	)		1,623,270
Net realized gain		—			—			46,600,516			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			1,833,666,100			—
Ending balance		11,011,987		$	14,230,489,101		$	16,356,103,991		$	46,600,516