Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2 - Significant Accounting Policies

A. Basis of Accounting

The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain statements and captions in the financial statements for the prior periods have been changed to conform to the current financial statement presentation.

B. Silver Bullion

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London branch (the “Custodian”), is responsible for the safekeeping of silver bullion owned by the Trust.

Fair value of the silver bullion held by the Trust is based on the price per ounce of silver determined in an electronic auction consisting of one or more 30‑second rounds hosted by ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”) that begins at 12:00 p.m. (London time) and published shortly thereafter on each day that the London silver market is open for business (such price, the “LBMA Silver Price”). If there is no announced LBMA Silver Price on any day, the Trustee is authorized to use the most recently announced LBMA Silver Price unless the Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, determines that such price is inappropriate as a basis for evaluation.

Gain or loss on sales of silver bullion is calculated on a trade date basis using the average cost method.

The following tables summarize activity in silver bullion for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

Three Months Ended June 30, 2019	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		309,301,232		$	5,475,186,353		$	4,670,448,601		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		20,139,972			300,557,309			300,557,309			—
Silver bullion distributed		(5,715,084	)		(100,797,226	)		(84,431,118	)		(16,366,108	)
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(395,507	)		(6,983,443	)		(5,887,355	)		(1,096,088	)
Net realized loss		—			—			(17,462,196	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			57,866,685			—
Ending balance		323,330,613		$	5,667,962,993		$	4,921,091,926		$	(17,462,196	)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2018	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		319,012,097		$	5,786,442,301		$	5,193,516,929		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		24,760,653			404,809,725			404,809,725			—
Silver bullion distributed		(20,901,664	)		(377,908,569	)		(350,390,495	)		(27,518,074	)
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(405,372	)		(7,335,219	)		(6,646,976	)		(688,243	)
Net realized loss		—			—			(28,206,317	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(43,957,463	)		—
Ending balance		322,465,714		$	5,806,008,238		$	5,169,125,403		$	(28,206,317	)

The following tables summarize activity in silver bullion for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

Six Months Ended June 30, 2019	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		317,233,610		$	5,641,558,156		$	4,906,017,787		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		32,006,044			485,837,021			485,837,021			—
Silver bullion distributed		(25,136,052	)		(445,746,844	)		(387,112,201	)		(58,634,643	)
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(772,989	)		(13,685,340	)		(11,803,469	)		(1,881,871	)
Net realized loss		—			—			(60,516,514	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(11,330,698	)		—
Ending balance		323,330,613		$	5,667,962,993		$	4,921,091,926		$	(60,516,514	)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		320,629,662		$	5,831,748,196		$	5,407,419,250		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		35,696,104			587,710,858			587,710,858			—
Silver bullion distributed		(33,066,784	)		(599,066,227	)		(557,768,350	)		(41,297,877	)
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(793,268	)		(14,384,589	)		(13,189,884	)		(1,194,705	)
Net realized loss		—			—			(42,492,582	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(212,553,889	)		—
Ending balance		322,465,714		$	5,806,008,238		$	5,169,125,403		$	(42,492,582	)

C. Calculation of Net Asset Value

On each business day, as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. (New York time), the net asset value of the Trust is obtained by subtracting all accrued fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the fair value of the silver and other assets held by the Trust. The Trustee computes the net asset value per Share by dividing the net asset value of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding on the date the computation is made.

D. Offering of the Shares

Trust Shares are issued and redeemed continuously in aggregations of 50,000 Shares in exchange for silver bullion rather than cash. Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. The Trust only transacts with registered broker-dealers that are eligible to settle securities transactions through the book-entry facilities of the Depository Trust Company and that have entered into a contractual arrangement with the Trustee and the Sponsor governing, among other matters, the creation and redemption of Shares (such broker-dealers, the “Authorized Participants”). Holders of Shares of the Trust may redeem their Shares at any time acting through an Authorized Participant and in the prescribed aggregations of 50,000 Shares; provided, that redemptions of Shares may be suspended during any period while regular trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) is suspended or restricted, or in which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of silver is not reasonably practicable.

The per Share amount of silver exchanged for a purchase or redemption represents the per Share amount of silver held by the Trust, after giving effect to its liabilities.

When silver bullion is exchanged in settlement of a redemption, it is considered a sale of silver bullion for accounting purposes.

E. Federal Income Taxes

The Trust is treated as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Any interest, expenses, gains and losses are passed through to the holders of Shares of the Trust.

The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of June 30, 2019 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.