COEUR D ALENE MINES CORP
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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<DESCRIPTION>EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Employment Agreement </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This
Agreement is made this 1st day of February,  2004,  between Coeur d' Alene Mines
 Corporation  ("Company")  and Donald J. Birak, ("Employee"). </FONT></P>


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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>WITNESSETH: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In
consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained to be kept and
performed by the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows: </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Employment</U>. The Company hereby does employ Employee as Senior Vice
          President Exploration, and Employee accepts such employment, on the terms and
          conditions of this Agreement. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Term Of Employment</U>. The term of employment shall be from February 1,
          2004, through the 31st day of January, 2005, unless sooner terminated as herein
          provided. It is further agreed that this Agreement automatically renews from
          day-to-day so that Company and Employee are at all times bound to this Agreement
          for a period of one year, unless either party gives the other party written
          notice of intention to terminate this Agreement at the end of one year from the
          date of receipt of such notice. It is understood, however, that termination can
          occur in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7 below, notwithstanding
          anything to the contrary in this paragraph 2. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Compensation</U>. The Company shall pay to Employee during the duration of
          the term of this Agreement as follows: </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          A base salary of $205,000 annually, payable in equal monthly installments, which
          may be reviewed annually during any Agreement year, and any higher salary to
          become the base salary for the purposes of this provision, it being understood,
          however, that failure to increase the salary shall not be grounds for
          termination of this Agreement; and </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          Such other compensation and benefits that may be made available by the Company
          in the discretion of the Board of Directors, consisting of bonuses, short-term
          and long-term incentive plans, pension plan, retirement plan, profit sharing
          plan, stock purchase plan and any other kind or type of incentive programs
          approved by the Board. It is understood that Employee shall be a participant in
          all compensation and benefit programs, including welfare benefit plans, which
          exist for the executive staff of the Company. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Duties</U>. Employee, during the term of this Agreement, shall perform the
          duties usually and customarily associated with the office specified in paragraph
          (1) above and as assigned to him from time-to-time by the Chief Executive
          Officer of Company. </FONT></P>




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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Employee
shall devote his best efforts and substantially all of his time during business hours to
advance the interests of the Company. He shall not engage in business activity in
competition with the Company. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Vacations</U>. Employee shall be entitled to four weeks vacation during each
          year of this Agreement, during which the compensation provided in this Agreement
          shall be paid in full. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Disability</U>. In the event Employee becomes disabled (inability or
          incapacity due to physical or mental illness or injury to perform his duties)
          during the term of this Agreement, which enables him unable to perform his
          duties, he shall be entitled to participate in the Company&#146;s disability
          payment plan in effect at the time of the disability. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Termination Of Employment</U>. This Agreement shall be terminated as follows: </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          At the expiration of the term set forth above. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          Upon the death of Employee. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          By mutual agreement of the parties. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          Upon disability of Employee, when such disability renders Employee unable to
          perform his duties for more than 90 continuous days. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          By the Company without giving any reason for termination, but with the
          understanding that the compensation provided herein shall be paid or provided in
          full to Employee in accordance with this Agreement, for the period of the
          duration of this Agreement as provided in paragraph 2 above. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          By the Company for cause, which means that Employee has failed to perform his
          duties after having received from the Company a written notice that his duties
          are not being performed, which written notice shall specify how performance is
          deficient, and Employee then fails to resume performance promptly after receipt
          of notice and failure of performance is not rectified. For cause also means
          conviction of a felony or engagement in illegal conduct or conduct which is
          injurious to the Company, in any such case Company need not allow Employee to
          rectify nonperformance. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          Upon change in control of Company, as &#147;change in control&#148; is defined
          in the so-called change in control agreement between Company and Employee made
          concurrently with this Agreement.. In the event of termination for this reason,
          Employee&#146;s and Company&#146;s rights with respect to compensation and all
          other matters related to employment shall be as specified in the change in
          control agreement, and not this Agreement. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Confidentiality</U>. Employee agrees to keep all information acquired in
          connection with his employment confidential, in accordance with the
          confidentiality agreement executed by him which is attached to this Agreement,
          marked Attachment 1. </FONT></P>




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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Specific Performance</U>. Employee understands that the obligations
          undertaken by him as set forth in this Agreement are unique, and that Company
          will likely have no adequate remedy at law in the event such obligations are
          breached. Employee therefore confirms that Company has the right to seek
          specific performance if Company feels such remedy is essential to protect the
          rights of Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies which Company
          might have in law or equity, it shall have the right to have all obligations
          specifically performed, and to obtain injunctive relief, preliminary or
          otherwise, to secure performance. Employee agrees that the arbitration provision
          below will not be used to assert dismissal of an action in court for injunctive
          relief, and agrees that the availability of arbitration is not intended by the
          parties to prevent Company from seeking specific performance and injunctive
          relief. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>10.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Arbitration</U>. The Company and Employee will attempt to resolve any
          disputes under this Agreement by negotiation. If any matter is not thereby
          resolved, within 30 days after written notice by either party to the other, any
          dispute or disagreement arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the
          breach of it, will be subject to exclusive, final and binding arbitration to be
          conducted in Coeur d&#146; Alene, Idaho in accordance with the Labor Arbitration
          Rules of Procedure of the American Arbitration Association and the laws of the
          State of Idaho governing arbitration of disputes. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>11.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <U>Other Items</U>. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in any way
          unless the amendment or modification is in writing, signed by the parties. There
          shall be no oral modification of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement
          shall be waived by conduct of the parties or in any other way. This Agreement
          and its validity, interpretation, construction and performance shall be governed
          by the laws of the State of Idaho. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first
written above. </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Coeur d&#146; Alene Mines
Corporation </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>by_____________________________ </FONT></P>


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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>_____________________________<BR>Donald J. Birak </FONT></P>



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