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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IoPYanYUkULj0O7SQlfmkVSjkTplsylw9qZEy6cfgdPpkI3Pa/pXKkz2sIbvO4DO
 bF7GpSqWMk87iZS43ycnjg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000077159-05-000012.txt : 20050209
<SEC-HEADER>0000077159-05-000012.hdr.sgml : 20050209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050209142204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000077159-05-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050209

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:		05588085

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-07</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>401TIMES 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>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.82</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>23</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>423</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The conversion rate is 1 for 1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares of common stock, which are credited to the reporting person's account, the receipt of which was deferred pursuant to the Penn Virginia Corporation Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) in transactions exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The deferred common stock will be payable under the terms of the Plan on the earlier of January 1, 2021 or the date on which Ms. Perelman ceases to serve as a non-employee director of Penn Virginia Corporation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy M. Snyder as power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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