Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

Year Ended December 31, 2021	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		16,881,652		$	25,014,142,586		$	31,924,891,396		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		1,010,824			1,853,104,516			1,853,104,516			—
Gold bullion distributed		(2,067,597	)		(3,083,787,949	)		(3,649,216,540	)		565,428,591
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(40,554	)		(60,546,285	)		(73,370,533	)		12,824,248
Net realized gain		—			—			578,252,839			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(1,904,612,983	)		—
Ending balance		15,784,325		$	23,722,912,868		$	28,729,048,695		$	578,252,839

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

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2021						2020						2019
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued(a)		53,075,000		$	1,853,104,516			359,650,000		$	12,103,493,289			191,675,000		$	5,226,042,788
Shares redeemed(a)		(108,550,000	)		(3,649,216,540	)		(80,000,000	)		(2,617,761,048	)		(56,200,000	)		(1,418,257,979	)
Net increase (decrease)		(55,475,000	)	$	(1,796,112,024	)		279,650,000		$	9,485,732,241			135,475,000		$	3,807,784,809