if you typed in your minecraft name correctly when you registered for the forum and you're recognized as a member in-game, you definitely got your free coal protection stone and $500.
as far as the prices go, i don't think they'll be changing very soon- especially coal. $1,500 is very easy to get just by selling resources such as iron to the market. just about every block you break in an iron expedition can be sold to the market (unless things have changed very recently).
however, i'll personally acknowledge that i believe the current economy to be in a bad state. tons of money floating around on a few select people, and the rest dirt poor. the market has been largely abused as it has an unlimited supply of both money and items. we can't get rid of it because there simply aren't enough efficient ways for players to trade money or goods with each other. lets face it, running a player-made shop and advertising on the trade channel is a recipe for failure.
so until we get problems with the current economy ironed out (which won't be terribly soon) you'll pretty much have to sit tight and make due with what you have available.
