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Significant Accounting Policies (Quantitative Effect Of Adoption Of Investment Company Accounting) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Jan. 01, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
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Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value at December 31, 2013 at lower of cost or market value |  |  |  | $ 1,040,003sgol_InvestmentInBullion |  |  |
Value at January 1, 2014 at fair value | $ 940,011us-gaap_InvestmentInPhysicalCommodities | [1],[2] | $ 1,040,003us-gaap_InvestmentInPhysicalCommodities | $ 1,040,003us-gaap_InvestmentInPhysicalCommodities | [1],[3] | $ 1,561,925us-gaap_InvestmentInPhysicalCommodities | $ 1,376,845us-gaap_InvestmentInPhysicalCommodities
[1] | At December 31, 2014, the investment in gold is valued at fair value. At December 31, 2013 the investment in gold was valued at the lower of cost or market value. Refer to note 2.1 for a breakdown of cost and fair value of the investment in gold.
[2] | Effective January 1, 2014, the Trust has adopted the provisions of Topic 946, Investment Companies, and follows specialized accounting. Refer to Note 2.1 for additional information.
[3] | Derived from audited Statement of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2013. The amounts are those previously reported under non-investment company accounting. Refer to Note 2.1 for additional information.

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- Definition Total value of investment in bullion (Gold,Silver,Platinum,Palladium) received by the Trust in respect of the issuance of Shares at the lower of cost or market value as at the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Investments held in physical commodities, such as gold, silver, platinum, crude oil, coal, sugar, rice, wheat. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 12 -Article 5 + Details
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