<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000085535-15-000001.txt : 20150813
<SEC-HEADER>0000085535-15-000001.hdr.sgml : 20150813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150813192905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000085535-15-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150812
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150813
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150813

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Thompson Christopher M.T.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001483410

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13357
		FILM NUMBER:		151052151

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10901 W. TOLLER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001483410</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thompson Christopher M.T.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10901 W. TOLLER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80127</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>2015-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>53.89</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12144</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported represents the weighted average sales price of common stock purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $53.77 to $53.94, inclusive.  The reporting person will provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the SEC staff, upon request, information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,072 shares of restricted stock that have not yet vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret A. Beck as Attorney-in-Fact for Christopher M.T. Thompson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
