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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000935836-07-000331.txt : 20071011
<SEC-HEADER>0000935836-07-000331.hdr.sgml : 20071011
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071011162812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000935836-07-000331
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071009
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071011
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071011

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:			aAd Capital Management LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001388494
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-51129
		FILM NUMBER:		071167507

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		420 STEVENS AVENUE, SUITE 210
		CITY:			SOLANA BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92075
		BUSINESS PHONE:		858-350-1077

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		420 STEVENS AVENUE, SUITE 210
		CITY:			SOLANA BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92075
</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>2007-10-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001388494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>aAd Capital Management LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>420 STEVENS AVENUE, SUITE 210</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOLANA BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92075</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>2007-10-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>141944</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.135</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2758056</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes 1 and 2</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>258056</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.1093</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes 1 and 2</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities reported as beneficially owned by aAd Capital Management L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;aAd&quot;), on this Form 4 include securities also beneficially owned by aAd Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Daniel P. Wimsatt (collectively with aAd, the &quot;Filers&quot;).  aAd is the general partner and investment adviser of investment limited partnerships and the investment adviser to other accounts.  aAd Capital LLC is the general partner of aAd and Mr. Wimsatt is the manager of aAd Capital LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are held directly by the limited partnerships of which aAd is general partner and investment adviser and the other accounts of which it is investment adviser, for the benefit of the investors in those partnerships and accounts.  The Filers are filing this Form 4 jointly, but not as a group, and each of them expressly disclaims membership in a group within the meaning of rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Each of the Filers disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of that person's pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>aAd Capital Management L.P., by aAd Capital LLC, GP, by Daniel P. Wimsatt, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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