Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Notes Tables

Activity in Gold Bullion [Table Text Block]

Year Ended December 31, 2022	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		15,784,325		$	23,722,912,868		$	28,729,048,695		$	—
Gold bullion contributed		1,587,029			2,989,014,129			2,989,014,129			—
Gold bullion distributed		(2,896,772	)		(4,445,139,253	)		(5,018,182,038	)		573,042,785
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses		(40,061	)		(61,236,740	)		(71,964,743	)		10,728,003
Net realized gain		—			—			583,770,788			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(1,051,283,081	)		—
Ending balance		14,434,521		$	22,205,551,004		$	26,160,403,750		$	583,770,788

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

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2022						2021						2020
	Shares			Amount			Shares(a)			Amount			Shares(a)			Amount
Shares issued		83,500,000		$	2,989,014,129			53,075,000		$	1,853,104,516			359,650,000		$	12,103,493,289
Shares redeemed		(152,550,000	)		(5,018,182,038	)		(108,550,000	)		(3,649,216,540	)		(80,000,000	)		(2,617,761,048	)
Net increase (decrease)		(69,050,000	)	$	(2,029,167,909	)		(55,475,000	)	$	(1,796,112,024	)		279,650,000		$	9,485,732,241