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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
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.
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
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 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. Prior to
October 
2,
 
2017,
the LBMA Silver Price was determined using an electronic auction administered by CME Group Inc. (“CME Group”) and published by Thomson Reuters. Effective as of
October 2, 2017,
IBA replaced CME Group and Thomson Reuters as the administrator for the LBMA Silver Price and began administering the electronic auction for the LBMA Silver Price.
 
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
September 30, 2018
and
2017:
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
  
Ounces
    

Cost
    
Fair
Value
    
Realized
Gain (Loss)
  
Beginning balance
    
322,465,714
     $
5,806,008,238
     $
5,169,125,403
     $
—
  
Silver bullion contributed
    
19,467,176
      
292,541,629
      
292,541,629
      
—
  
Silver bullion distributed
    
(8,462,245
 )    
(151,456,941
 )    
(126,949,317
 )    
(24,507,624
 )
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses
    
(423,814
 )    
(7,607,119
 )    
(6,446,950
 )    
(1,160,169
 )
Net realized loss
    
—
      
—
      
(25,667,793
 )    
—
  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
    
—
      
—
      
(538,368,056
 )    
—
  
Ending balance
    
333,046,831
     $
5,939,485,807
     $
4,764,234,916
     $
(25,667,793
 )
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
  
Ounces
    

Cost
    
Fair
Value
    
Realized
Gain (Loss)
  
Beginning balance
    
339,605,211
     $
6,235,001,418
     $
5,593,297,824
     $
—
  
Silver bullion contributed
    
11,392,577
      
180,668,658
      
180,668,658
      
—
  
Silver bullion distributed
    
(23,817,516
 )    
(435,509,224
 )    
(403,286,795
 )    
(32,222,429
 )
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses
    
(422,857
 )    
(7,742,714
 )    
(7,146,128
 )    
(596,586
 )
Net realized loss
    
—
      
—
      
(32,819,015
 )    
—
  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
    
—
      
—
      
178,415,473
      
—
  
Ending balance
    
326,757,415
     $
5,972,418,138
     $
5,509,130,017
     $
(32,819,015
 )
 
The following tables summarize activity in silver bullion for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2018
and
2017:
 
Nine Months Ended September 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
    
55,163,280
      
880,252,487
      
880,252,487
      
—
  
Silver bullion distributed
    
(41,529,029
 )    
(750,523,168
 )    
(684,717,667
 )    
(65,805,501
 )
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses
    
(1,217,082
 )    
(21,991,708
 )    
(19,636,834
 )    
(2,354,874
 )
Net realized loss
    
—
      
—
      
(68,160,375
 )    
—
  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
    
—
      
—
      
(750,921,945
 )    
—
  
Ending balance
    
333,046,831
     $
5,939,485,807
     $
4,764,234,916
     $
(68,160,375
 )
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Ounces
    

Cost
    
Fair
Value
    
Realized
Gain (Loss)
  
Beginning balance
    
341,348,242
     $
6,305,715,839
     $
5,543,495,441
     $
—
  
Silver bullion contributed
    
38,888,176
      
649,149,108
      
649,149,108
      
—
  
Silver bullion distributed
    
(52,224,977
 )    
(959,371,591
 )    
(899,979,662
 )    
(59,391,929
 )
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses
    
(1,254,026
 )    
(23,075,218
 )    
(21,537,444
 )    
(1,537,774
 )
Net realized loss
    
—
      
—
      
(60,929,703
 )    
—
  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
    
—
      
—
      
298,932,277
      
—
  
Ending balance
    
326,757,415
     $
5,972,418,138
     $
5,509,130,017
     $
(60,929,703
 )
Calculation of Net Asset Value [Policy Text Block]
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.
Offering of the Shares [Policy Text Block]
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.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
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
September 30, 2018
and does
not
believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.