Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.                  
                             
                                                                  Exhibit 11  
   
                        Computation of Earnings per Common Share  
                     (in millions except per share data)

                                                         Three months ended  
                                                         March 31,  March 31, 
                                                           1997       1996  
Line

1   Net income available to common shareholders            $33.1      $29.1
                                        
                                
2   Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
     during period                                         128.5      105.1

                                
3   Net shares issuable upon exercise of dilutive 
     outstanding stock options                                .7         .3


4   Weighted average convertible preferred stock*           11.3        4.4  


5   Preference dividends                                   $ 5.9      $ 2.2


6   Primary earnings per common share                      $0.26      $0.28
           

7   Fully diluted earnings per common share**              $0.26      $0.28


*   Preferred shares are convertible into common stock (at the discretion
    of the holder) at a rate of .911. For 1996 this assumed conversion is
    averaged from the issuance date of February 26, 1996.

**  The 4.5% cumulative convertible preferred stock and the related dividends
    were excluded from the calculation of first quarter 1997 and 1996 fully
    diluted earnings per share as they were anti-dilutive.