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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.4
 
                        CONSENT OF JOHN T. BOYD COMPANY
 
     We hereby consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" and to
the use of our letter report dated August 26, 1997, with respect to the
demonstrated coal reserves of Anker Coal Group, Inc., included in the prospectus
of Anker Coal Group, Inc., for the registration of US$125,000,000 of Anker Coal
Group, Inc.'s Series B Senior Notes due 2007, which Prospectus is part of the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Anker Coal Group, Inc.
 
     We further wish to advise that John T. Boyd Company was not employed on a
contingent basis and that at the time of preparation of our report, as well as
at present, neither John T. Boyd Company nor any of its employees had or now has
a substantial interest in Anker Coal Group, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
JOHN T. BOYD COMPANY
By:
/s/ RONALD L. LEWIS
 
Ronald L. Lewis
Senior Vice President
November 6, 1997