FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * NAVARRE RICHARD A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PEABODY ENERGY CORP [BTU] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Pres & Chief Comm. Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 701 MARKET STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/10/2010 (Street) ST. LOUIS, MO 63101-1826 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 12/10/2010   M(1)   65,025 A $ 39.8143 86,777 D   Common Stock 12/10/2010   M(1)   37,693 A $ 34.9553 124,470 D   Common Stock 12/10/2010   M(1)   25,751 A $ 26.84 150,221 D   Common Stock 12/10/2010   S(1)   17,500 D $ 60.98 (2) 132,721 D   Common Stock 12/10/2010   S(1)   110,969 D $ 61.47 (3) 21,752 D   Common Stock               120,900 I By Family Trust

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 39.8143

12/10/2010

M(1)

65,025

01/03/2009

01/03/2016

Common Stock

65,025

(4)

0 (5)

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 34.9553

12/10/2010

M(1)

37,693

(6)

01/03/2017

Common Stock

37,693

(4)

0 (5)

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 26.84

12/10/2010

M(1)

25,751

01/05/2010

01/05/2019

Common Stock

25,751

(4)

51,501 (5)

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
NAVARRE RICHARD A 701 MARKET STREET ST. LOUIS, MO 63101-1826			Pres & Chief Comm. Officer

Signatures

Richard A. Navarre By: Kenneth L. Wagner Attorney-in-Fact		12/14/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	This exercise/sale was effected pursuant to a pre-existing Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person.
(2)	This represents the weighted average sale price for the shares. The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $60.88 to $61.08 per share, inclusive. The reporting person will provide upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
(3)	This represents the weighted average sale price for the shares. The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $61.09 to $62.08 per share, inclusive. The reporting person will provide upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
(4)	Not applicable.
(5)	Does not include employee stock options with different expiration dates and exercise prices.
(6)	18,846 options vested on January 3, 2009 and 18,847 options vested on January 3, 2010.

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