8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                ----------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)           NOVEMBER 17, 2004
                                                      --------------------------


                            JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


          VIRGINIA                                            54-1602012
- ---------------------------- ------------------------ --------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission              (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)             File Number)           Identification No.)


      901 E. BYRD STREET, SUITE 1600, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA              23219
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:        (804) 780-3000
                                                      --------------------------


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (SEE General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
        CFR 230.425)

[ ]     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
        CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
        Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
        Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 8.01       OTHER EVENTS

        PRESS RELEASE. The press release of the Registrant dated November 17,
2004, which is filed as an exhibit hereto, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)     Exhibits.

        EXHIBIT NO.                     DESCRIPTION
        -----------                     -----------

        99.1              Press release dated November 17, 2004



                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY
                                (REGISTRANT)


                                By: /s/  Samuel M. Hopkins II
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                    Samuel M. Hopkins II
                                    Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer


Date:  November 17, 2004

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------

CONTACT:  James River Coal Company
Samuel M. Hopkins II
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(804) 780-3000




                       JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY ANNOUNCES
          EFFECTIVENESS OF RESALE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, APPROVAL FOR
                QUOTATION ON OTC BULLETIN BOARD, AND STOCK SPLIT


        Richmond, VA, November 17, 2004 - James River Coal Company (OTC: JRCC),
a producer of steam-and industrial-grade coal, announced the effectiveness of
its registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The registration statement, which was declared effective as of Friday, November
12, 2004, will enable certain selling shareholders to resell up to 8,462,722
shares of James River's Common Stock. Those shareholders may resell all or a
portion of their shares from time-to-time, but James River is not currently
aware of any specific plans by its shareholders to do so.

        James River also announced that the company was approved for quotation
on the OTC Bulletin Board, and that its Common Stock began trading on the OTC
Bulletin Board on Monday, November 15, 2004. James River intends to list its
Common Stock on The Nasdaq National Market, when and if it meets the required
listing standards.

        In addition, the company announced that it had effected a two-for-one
stock split. The stock split was payable in the form of a 100% stock dividend
for each shareholder of record on October 22, 2004, and was effected on November
5, 2004. James River had 14,728,994 shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after effecting the stock split.

ABOUT JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY

        James River Coal Company mines, processes and sells bituminous, low
sulfur, steam- and industrial-grade coal primarily to electric utility companies
and industrial companies, through its five mining complexes located throughout
eastern Kentucky. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 901
E. Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

        A registration statement relating to the securities discussed above has
been filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities
in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to the registration or qualification of the securities under the securities laws
of any such state.

        A copy of the final prospectus related to the offering can be obtained
from James River Coal Company, at 901 E. Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219;
Attention: Investor Relations.



        Certain statements in this press release, and other written or oral
statements made by or on behalf of us, are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding future events
and developments and our future performance, as well as management's
expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future,
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. These
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: a
change in the demand for coal by electric utility customers; the loss of one or
more of our largest customers; failure to exploit additional coal reserves;
failure to diversify our operations; increased capital expenditures; increased
compliance costs; lack of availability of financing sources; the effects of
regulation and competition, and the risk factors detailed in our registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important
factors are incorporated herein by reference. Management believes that these
forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue
reliance on such statements. These statements are based on current expectations
and speak only as of the date of such statements. We undertake no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
future events, new information or otherwise.