-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R7O9l/wXiIHRRG57w96jl8qSFpATzHrf7WntVohL1CqTaW3/NluVSDpfNXLUoQYs
 K4/9xRKEay6AtYDwKskxew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000077159-03-000114.txt : 20030731
<SEC-HEADER>0000077159-03-000114.hdr.sgml : 20030731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030731091204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000077159-03-000114
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030729
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030731

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENN VIRGINIA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077159
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				231184320
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MATSONFORD ROAD SUITE 230
		STREET 2:		THREE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RADNOR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6106878900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MATSONFORD ROAD SUITE 230
		STREET 2:		THREE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RADNOR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VIRGINIA COAL & IRON CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19670501

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERELMAN MARSHA REINES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001072770
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13283
		FILM NUMBER:		03813086

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WOODFORDE MGMT. INC.
		STREET 2:		401 TIMES BUILDING
		CITY:			ADMORE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		610 896 4374

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401TIMES BUILDING
		CITY:			ARDMORE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19003
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN VIRGINIA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PVA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001072770</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERELMAN MARSHA REINES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>401 TIMES BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARDMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock $6.25 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22777</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock $6.25 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy M. Snyder by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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