Organization	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization [Abstract]
Organization	1. Organization The Aberdeen Standard Gold ETF Trust (the “Trust”), formerly known as ETFS Gold Trust prior to October 1, 2018, is an investment trust formed on September 1, 2009 (the “Date of Inception”) under New York law pursuant to a depositary trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) executed by Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), formerly known as ETF Securities USA LLC prior to October 1, 2018, and The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee (the “Trustee”) at the time of the Trust’s organization. The Trust holds gold bullion and issues Aberdeen Standard Physical Swiss Gold Shares ETF (the “Shares”), formerly known as ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares prior to October 1, 2018, (in minimum blocks of 50,000 Shares, also referred to as “Baskets”) in exchange for deposits of gold and distributes gold in connection with redemption of Baskets. Shares represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust which are issued by the Trust. The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company. Prior to April 27, 2018, the Sponsor was wholly-owned by ETF Securities Limited, a Jersey, Channel Islands based company. Effective April 27, 2018, ETF Securities Limited sold its membership interest in the Sponsor to Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (“ASII”), formerly known as Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. prior to January 1, 2019, a Delaware corporation. As a result of the sale, ASII became the sole member of the Sponsor. ASII is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc. The Trust is governed by the Trust Agreement. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold, less the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Trust is designed to provide an individual owner of beneficial interests in the Shares (a “Shareholder”) an opportunity to participate in the gold market through an investment in securities.

1. Organization

The Aberdeen Standard Gold ETF Trust (the “Trust”), formerly known as ETFS Gold Trust prior to October 1, 2018, is an investment trust formed on September 1, 2009 (the “Date of Inception”) under New York law pursuant to a depositary trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) executed by Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), formerly known as ETF Securities USA LLC prior to October 1, 2018, and The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee (the “Trustee”) at the time of the Trust’s organization. The Trust holds gold bullion and issues Aberdeen Standard Physical Swiss Gold Shares ETF (the “Shares”), formerly known as ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares prior to October 1, 2018, (in minimum blocks of 50,000 Shares, also referred to as “Baskets”) in exchange for deposits of gold and distributes gold in connection with redemption of Baskets. Shares represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust which are issued by the Trust. The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company. Prior to April 27, 2018, the Sponsor was wholly-owned by ETF Securities Limited, a Jersey, Channel Islands based company. Effective April 27, 2018, ETF Securities Limited sold its membership interest in the Sponsor to Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (“ASII”), formerly known as Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. prior to January 1, 2019, a Delaware corporation. As a result of the sale, ASII became the sole member of the Sponsor. ASII is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc. The Trust is governed by the Trust Agreement.

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold, less the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Trust is designed to provide an individual owner of beneficial interests in the Shares (a “Shareholder”) an opportunity to participate in the gold market through an investment in securities.