FORM 4
[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
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                      	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940	                      	

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

Heissenbuttel William Holmes	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

ROYAL GOLD INC [ RGLD ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director                      _____ 10% Owner
__ X __ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below)
VP Corporate Development	
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

1660 WYNKOOP, #1000	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

8/16/2016		
(Street)

DENVER, CO 80202
(City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person	

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned	
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)	4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)	5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)	
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price				
Common Stock  	8/16/2016  	 	M	  	3272  	A	$0  	67102   (1)	D  	 	
Common Stock  	8/16/2016  	 	F	  	1491   (2)	D	$0  	65611   (1)	D  	 	
Common Stock  	8/16/2016  	 	A	  	3150   (3)	A	$0  	68761   (4)	D  	 	

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)	
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)	5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)	6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date	7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 3 and 4)	8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)	
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares					
Performance Shares  	$0  	8/16/2016  	 	M  	  	  	3272   	  (5)	8/20/2020  	Common Stock  	3272  	$0  	2142  	D  	 	
Stock Option (ISO-Right to Buy)  	$83.29  	8/16/2016  	 	A  	  	1200   	  	  (6)	8/16/2026  	Common Stock  	1200  	$83.29  	1200  	D  	 	
Stock Appreciation Rights  	$83.29  	8/16/2016  	 	A  	  	7720   	  	  (6)	8/16/2026  	Common Stock  	7720  	$83.29  	7720  	D  	 	
Performance Shares  	$0  	8/16/2016  	 	A  	  	6560   	  	  (5)	8/16/2019  	Common Stock  	6560  	$0  	6560  	D  	 	
Performance Shares  	$0  	8/16/2016  	 	A  	  	6560   	  	  (5)	8/16/2021  	Common Stock  	6560  	$0  	6560  	D  	 	

Explanation of Responses:	
(  1) 	Includes 20,443 shares of restricted stock that have not vested.	
(  2) 	Represents shares withheld to satisfy taxes; no shares were sold.	
(  3) 	Grant of restricted stock with a 2-year hold and then vesting as to one-third in years 3, 4 and 5.	
(  4) 	Includes 23,593 shares of restricted stock that have not vested.	
(  5) 	A performance award represents a contingent right to receive shares of common stock upon achievement of certain performance goals.	
(  6) 	One-third vests annually over 3 years beginning on August 16, 2017.	

Reporting Owners	
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships	
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other	
Heissenbuttel William Holmes
1660 WYNKOOP
#1000
DENVER, CO 80202			VP Corporate Development		

Signatures		
Margaret A. Beck as Attorney-in-Fact for William Holmes Heissenbuttel		8/18/2016	
** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.	
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).	
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).	
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.	
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