EXHIBIT 32.1



                   CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORTS



I, Irl F. Engelhardt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peabody Energy
Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)      the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004
         (the "Periodic Report") which this statement accompanies fully complies
         with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)      information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         Peabody Energy Corporation.

Dated:  August 4, 2004



                                            /s/ IRL F. ENGELHARDT
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Irl F. Engelhardt
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer