<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001037676 <NAME> ARCH COAL, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 26,518 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 220,882 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 89,218 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 367,640 <PP&E> 2,688,217 <DEPRECIATION> 735,173 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,920,265 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 358,384 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 397 <OTHER-SE> 631,631 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,920,265 <SALES> 641,178 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 665,990 <CGS> 576,516 <TOTAL-COSTS> 616,182 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,170 <INCOME-PRETAX> 35,819 <INCOME-TAX> 5,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 30,819 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 1,488 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,331 <EPS-PRIMARY> .74 <EPS-DILUTED> .74