Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Notes Tables

Activity in Silver Bullion [Table Text Block]

Year Ended December 31, 2022	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		530,838,100		$	11,330,688,133		$	12,254,397,545		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		162,289,256			3,608,993,778			3,608,993,778			—
Silver bullion distributed		(224,224,243	)		(4,857,116,435	)		(4,680,125,800	)		(176,990,635	)
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(2,637,967	)		(57,003,252	)		(56,964,663	)		(38,589	)
Net realized loss		—			—			(177,029,224	)		—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			215,447,290			—
Ending balance		466,265,146		$	10,025,562,224		$	11,164,718,926		$	(177,029,224	)

Year Ended December 31, 2021	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		558,715,882		$	10,472,474,303		$	14,797,590,146		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		256,106,607			6,742,609,430			6,742,609,430			—
Silver bullion distributed		(281,173,891	)		(5,825,814,648	)		(7,174,837,696	)		1,349,023,048
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(2,810,498	)		(58,580,952	)		(71,843,069	)		13,262,117
Net realized gain		—			—			1,362,285,165			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			(3,401,406,431	)		—
Ending balance		530,838,100		$	11,330,688,133		$	12,254,397,545		$	1,362,285,165

Year Ended December 31, 2020	Ounces			Cost			Fair Value			Realized Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance		362,616,711		$	6,294,157,046		$	6,543,418,555		$	—
Silver bullion contributed		371,438,229			7,299,222,832			7,299,222,832			—
Silver bullion distributed		(173,055,462	)		(3,080,813,670	)		(4,002,727,459	)		921,913,789
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses		(2,283,596	)		(40,091,905	)		(47,505,972	)		7,414,067
Net realized gain		—			—			929,327,856			—
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation		—			—			4,075,854,334			—
Ending balance		558,715,882		$	10,472,474,303		$	14,797,590,146		$	929,327,856

Schedule of Capital Units [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2022						2021						2020
	Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount			Shares			Amount
Shares issued		175,900,000		$	3,608,993,778			275,950,000		$	6,742,609,430			398,700,000		$	7,299,222,832
Shares redeemed		(243,150,000	)		(4,680,125,800	)		(303,100,000	)		(7,174,837,696	)		(185,850,000	)		(4,002,727,459	)
Net increase (decrease)		(67,250,000	)		(1,071,132,022	)		(27,150,000	)	$	(432,228,266	)		212,850,000		$	3,296,495,373