Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

Year Ended December 31, 2020	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		11,577,252		$	15,094,673,874		$	17,632,155,037		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		6,866,938			12,103,493,289			12,103,493,289			—
Gold bullion distributed		(1,527,240	)		(2,134,454,305	)		(2,617,761,048	)		483,306,743
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(35,298	)		(49,570,272	)		(62,451,444	)		12,881,172
Net realized gain		—			—			496,187,915			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			4,373,267,647			—
Ending balance		16,881,652		$	25,014,142,586		$	31,924,891,396		$	496,187,915

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

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2020						2019						2018
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued		719,300,000		$	12,103,493,289			383,350,000		$	5,226,042,788			247,000,000		$	3,078,649,161
Shares redeemed		(160,000,000	)		(2,617,761,048	)		(112,400,000	)		(1,418,257,979	)		(121,700,000	)		(1,483,295,672	)
Net increase		559,300,000		$	9,485,732,241			270,950,000		$	3,807,784,809			125,300,000		$	1,595,353,489