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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fs5+bbIEgKymNM5WgYO634E1hdqpVeO+kWnqsjen0Gp+fFZz2HV0HSx0NGOWGi7q
 sW7iy+r7T+babqwA44CpxA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000849869-03-000017.txt : 20030611
<SEC-HEADER>0000849869-03-000017.hdr.sgml : 20030611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030611164047
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000849869-03-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030606
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030611

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILGAN HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000849869
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL CANS [3411]
		IRS NUMBER:				061269834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 LANDMARK SQ
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2039757110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABRAMSON LEIGH J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205109

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22117
		FILM NUMBER:		03740954

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1585 BROADWAY
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127618393

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1585 BROADWAY
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>leigh_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-06-06</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000849869</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SILGAN HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>slgn</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205109</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ABRAMSON LEIGH J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Nonqualified stock options to purchase common stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>26.44</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-06-06</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>26.44</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-12-06</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-06-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>3000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> Options granted pursuant to Issuer's 2002 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan.  Pursuant to Morgan Stanley policy, no economic benefit arising from such options will accrue to the Reporting Person.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Leigh J. Abramson</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-06-11</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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