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Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies - Activity in Gold Bullion (Details)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
oz
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
oz
Beginning balance (Ounce) | oz 6,762,892 6,692,964 6,308,062 4,905,568 4,905,568
Gold bullion contributed (Ounce) | oz 829,112 673,745 1,634,973 2,854,595  
Gold bullion distributed (Ounce) | oz (239,388) (74,677) (582,465) (461,005)  
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses (Ounce) | oz (4,221) (4,247) (12,175) (11,373)  
Ending balance (Ounce) | oz 7,348,395 7,287,785 7,348,395 7,287,785 6,308,062
Beginning balance, average cost $ 8,277,677,317 $ 8,091,223,134 $ 7,706,923,343 $ 5,910,175,908 $ 5,910,175,908
Gold bullion contributed, average cost 1,067,933,923 902,311,073 2,067,477,206 3,555,013,884  
Gold bullion distributed, average cost (293,375,991) (91,045,362) (712,447,813) (554,149,884)  
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses, average cost (5,172,020) (5,162,864) (14,889,507) (13,713,927)  
Ending balance, average cost 9,047,063,229 8,897,325,981 9,047,063,229 8,897,325,981 7,706,923,343
Beginning balance, fair value 8,401,202,679 8,839,732,130 7,311,674,849 [1] 5,210,940,144 5,210,940,144
Gold bullion contributed, fair value 1,067,933,923 902,311,073 2,067,477,206 3,555,013,884  
Gold bullion distributed, fair value (307,829,659) (97,703,025) (731,446,104) (570,304,850)  
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses, fair value (5,376,124) (5,657,843) (15,136,183) (14,197,999)  
Ending balance, realized gain (loss) 14,657,772 7,152,642 19,244,967 16,639,038 25,068,804
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation, fair value 258,137,498 (7,738,711) 776,911,354 1,440,006,049 303,987,270
Ending balance, fair value 9,428,726,089 [1] 9,638,096,266 9,428,726,089 [1] 9,638,096,266 7,311,674,849 [1]
Gold bullion distributed, realized gain (loss) 14,453,668 6,657,663 18,998,291 16,154,966  
Gold bullion sold to pay expenses, realized gain (loss) 204,104 494,979 246,676 484,072  
Net realized gain (loss), fair value $ 14,657,772 $ 7,152,642 $ 19,244,967 $ 16,639,038 $ 25,068,804
[1] Cost of investment in gold bullion: $9,047,063,229 and $7,706,923,343, respectively.