<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CRESTED CORP. FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED AUGUST 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000025657 <NAME> CRESTED CORP. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1997 <CASH> 1,451,900 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 978,300 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 32,700 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,850,600 <PP&E> 5,213,300 <DEPRECIATION> 3,061,800 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 8,055,500 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,119,300 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10,200 <OTHER-SE> (856,600) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 8,055,500 <SALES> 453,600 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 886,800 <CGS> 27,600 <TOTAL-COSTS> 259,100 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 377,400 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,400 <INCOME-PRETAX> 245,900 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 245,900 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 245,900 <EPS-PRIMARY> .02 <EPS-DILUTED> 0