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Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies - Activity in Silver Bullion (Details)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
oz
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
oz
Beginning balance (Ounce) | oz 322,465,714 339,605,211 320,629,662 341,348,242 341,348,242
Silver bullion contributed (Ounce) | oz 19,467,176 11,392,577 55,163,280 38,888,176  
Silver bullion distributed (Ounce) | oz (8,462,245) (23,817,516) (41,529,029) (52,224,977)  
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses (Ounce) | oz (423,814) (422,857) (1,217,082) (1,254,026)  
Ending balance (Ounce) | oz 333,046,831 326,757,415 333,046,831 326,757,415 320,629,662
Beginning balance, average cost $ 5,806,008,238 $ 6,235,001,418 $ 5,831,748,196 $ 6,305,715,839 $ 6,305,715,839
Silver bullion contributed, average cost 292,541,629 180,668,658 880,252,487 649,149,108  
Silver bullion distributed, average cost (151,456,941) (435,509,224) (750,523,168) (959,371,591)  
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses, average cost (7,607,119) (7,742,714) (21,991,708) (23,075,218)  
Ending balance, average cost 5,939,485,807 5,972,418,138 5,939,485,807 5,972,418,138 5,831,748,196
Beginning balance, fair value 5,169,125,403 5,593,297,824 5,407,419,250 [1] 5,543,495,441 5,543,495,441
Silver bullion contributed, fair value 292,541,629 180,668,658 880,252,487 649,149,108  
Silver bullion distributed, fair value (126,949,317) (403,286,795) (684,717,667) (899,979,662)  
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses, fair value (6,446,950) (7,146,128) (19,636,834) (21,537,444)  
Net realized gain (loss), fair value (25,667,793) (32,819,015) (68,160,375) (60,929,703) (92,120,817)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation, fair value (538,368,056) 178,415,473 (750,921,945) 298,932,277 337,891,452
Ending balance, fair value 4,764,234,916 [1] 5,509,130,017 4,764,234,916 [1] 5,509,130,017 5,407,419,250 [1]
Silver bullion distributed, realized gain (loss) (24,507,624) (32,222,429) (65,805,501) (59,391,929)  
Silver bullion sold to pay expenses, realized gain (loss) (1,160,169) (596,586) (2,354,874) (1,537,774)  
Ending balance, realized gain (loss) $ (25,667,793) $ (32,819,015) $ (68,160,375) $ (60,929,703) $ (92,120,817)
[1] Cost of investment in silver bullion: $5,939,485,807 and $5,831,748,196, respectively.