-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 CIXF1tlPgD6Hngo4vL3BUw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001295984-06-000004.txt : 20060112
<SEC-HEADER>0001295984-06-000004.hdr.sgml : 20060112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060112162733
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001295984-06-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060112

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			James River Coal CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001297720
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING [1221]
		IRS NUMBER:				541602012
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 E. BYRD STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		804-780-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 E. BYRD STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Pirate Capital LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001295984
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-51129
		FILM NUMBER:		06527382

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 CONNECTICUT AVENUE
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06854
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203 854 1100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 CONNECTICUT AVENUE
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06854
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001297720</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>James River Coal CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JRCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295984</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pirate Capital LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 CONNECTICUT AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWALK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2006-01-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.4984</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1958929</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities beneficially owned by the Reporting Person are held directly by Jolly Roger Fund LP, a private investment partnership for which the Reporting Person serves as general partner, Jolly Roger Offshore Fund LTD, a British Virgin Islands international business company for which the Reporting Person serves as investment advisor and Mint Master Fund LTD, a managed account for which the Reporting Person serves as investment advisor (collectively, the &quot;Funds&quot;). The Reporting Person is deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner of the securities reported by reason of its position as general partner and investment advisor, as applicable, of the Funds, and its pecuniary interest in such shares (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) is a fractional interest in such amount. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any and all such amounts in excess of such actual pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas R. Hudson Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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