question regarding bituminous and anthracite coal

Electrical companies burn bituminous. There is far more of it available than anthracite, and it costs quite a bit less.

As I understand it (from lessons learned here on NEPACrossroads) bit has a lot more volatiles and stinky sulfur, and it smokes way more. Bit burns primarily with air from above. Anthracite burns primarily with air from below, and is virtually smoke and odor free. Good bit coal can have more BTU's per pound than anthracite. Stoves designed for one will not work well with the other.

If you intend to burn bit in your your DS Machine 1500 you should ask Amos at DS Machine (717-768-3853) to make you a door for it with "functional over the fire air controls" (functional as opposed to decorative air inlet knobs that are adjustable and allow air to come in from above the fire). He might even consider taking your original door as a trade in for the new one? With that door you should be able to burn both types. Close down the air controls over the fire for anthracite, and open them up some (to perhaps a bunch?) for bituminous.

Powerplants burn Bituminous coal. In large industrial settings bituminous coal has properties that are valued over anthracite including grindability, lower ash, and faster rate of combustion - even for pulverized coal.

In properly tuned stoker firing bit and anthracite both burn very clean with a slight edge on maximum achievable combustion efficiency going to bit coal; both being burned properly, bit coal and anthracite will produce very similar levels of emissions across the board with some bit coals having slightly higher sulfur.

In a hand-fired stove bit coal will produce more soot and hydrocarbons in the exhaust gasses and anthracite will produce more CO. An excellent bit coal will have more heat and less ash than anthracite, but you will always have some soot when hand-firing bituminous coal. As far as any toxic elements in the coal or the ash, it's basically the same across the board east of the Mississippi between anthracite and bituminous coal. The toxic elements and compounds in coal/coal ash are basically the same trace elements that are in the soil all around you, and they're at basically the same levels.

Another thing to consider with your DS-1500 Circulator is that you will need to remove the hopper if burning bituminous coal. Hoppers are a total no-no with bit coal.