-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WEW5JLCLSBowbiYLdYk6g46cwu0dd8R+RCxRXzjMwUWyWDhjRIcPiJf5SIK0wU9+
 qeJ5QYrY0tSh7a3pNq7VIw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000941413-09-000006.txt : 20090213
<SEC-HEADER>0000941413-09-000006.hdr.sgml : 20090213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090213184308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000941413-09-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEMPSEY STANLEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000941413

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13357
		FILM NUMBER:		09606179

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 WYNKOOP ST
		STREET 2:		STE 1000
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202-1132

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROYAL GOLD INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000085535
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINERAL ROYALTY TRADERS [6795]
		IRS NUMBER:				840835164
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 WYNKOOP STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202-1132
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-573-1660

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 WYNKOOP STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202-1132

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYAL GOLD INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYAL RESOURCES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870517

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYAL RESOURCES EXPLORATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19810716
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000085535</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROYAL GOLD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RGLD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000941413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMPSEY STANLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1660 WYNKOOP ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202-1132</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.39</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70418</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale made pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The range of the weighted average sale price is $42.83 to $44.04.  The following is the number of shares sold at each separate price:  100 shares at $42.83, 6 shares at $42.84, 94 shares at $42.85, 281 shares at $42.87, 344 shares at $42,93, 100 shares at $42,95, 12 shares at $43.00, 88 shares at $43.01, 84 shares at $43.04, 97 shares at $43.05, 294 shares at $43.06, 100 shares at $43.07, 272 shares at $43.08, 328 shares at $43.11, 100 shares at $43.16, 100 shares at $43.17, 100 shares at $43.18, 100 shares at $43.23, 300 shares at $43.31, 371 shares at $43.32, 100 shares at $43.38, 100 shares at $43.40, 200 shares at $43.41, 108 shares at $43.57, 200 shares at $43.58, 100 shares at $43.63, 123 shares at $43.73, 300 shares at $43.75, 200 shares at $43.76, 200 shares at $43.77, 29 shares at $43.78, 100 shares at $43.86, 100 shares at $43.90, 269 shares at $43.92, 100 shares at $43.99, 500 shares at $44.04.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Stanley Dempsey, kg for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
