Solid-state N-15 NMR is applied in a study of various coal samples to evaluate the forms of nitrogen in coal. The spectra display the main signal intensities in the region of pyrrole-and indole derivatives, No signals assigned to pyridine derivatives were identified. This contradicts the most common belief that pyridine-like structures comprise the major form of nitrogen in coal. The successful application of N-15 NMR spectroscopy to coal samples may help to provide a new level of understanding of coal-nitrogen chemistry.