<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>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          25,170
<SECURITIES>                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   202,734
<ALLOWANCES>                                    0
<INVENTORY>                                     71,320
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                362,518
<PP&E>                                          2,655,717
<DEPRECIATION>                                  746,397
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  2,879,561
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           381,669
<BONDS>                                         0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                     0
<COMMON>                                        397
<OTHER-SE>                                      622,454
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    2,879,561
<SALES>                                         1,034,474
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                1,090,113
<CGS>                                           943,438
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   1,016,396
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              38,770
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 35,263
<INCOME-TAX>                                    3,900
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             31,363
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 1,488
<CHANGES>                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,875
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   .75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   .75