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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We consent to the inclusion in this registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-09129) of our report dated March 18, 1996, except for Note 1.a.;
and the second, third and fourth paragraphs in Note 6, as to which the date is
July 29, 1996, and except for the fourth paragraph of Note 1.m., the fifth
paragraph of Note 6, and Note 18 as to which the date is November 1, 1996, and
our report dated June 14, 1996, on our audits of the consolidated financial
statements and consolidated financial statement schedules of Symons
International Group, Inc. and Superior Insurance Company, Inc., respectively. We
also consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected Financial
Data" and "Experts."
    
 
   
                                          /s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
    
                                          COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
Indianapolis, Indiana
   
October 28, 1996