-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KJAE6IXJBMKglfOrg8b+Z7IY9GD1mLhz7JH+0Tspz2nlqzIsWu6ylW3zdUCeRFWT
 LyepP0Z4b/x1juiP7+B03Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017637-04-000001.txt : 20040113
<SEC-HEADER>0001017637-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040113073501
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017637-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009346
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				350160330
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 N MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3176369800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BALDWIN H C AGENCY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720309

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHAPIRO NORTON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017637

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05534
		FILM NUMBER:		04521665

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		STREET 2:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		1376369800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		STREET 2:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009346</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDWIN &amp; LYONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BWINA / B</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017637</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAPIRO NORTON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1550 NORTH STATE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60610</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7500</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>397875</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Various </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></no
nDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18375</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1438500</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Various </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Owned by (a) Gelbart Fur Dressers (not Inc.), (178,500 shares of Class A and 714,000 s
hares of Class B) and Jay Ell Company (not Inc.), (41,250 shares of Class A and 165,000 shares of Class B) limited partnerships as to which beneficial ownership is shared by the undersigned and his two brothers, and (b) Diversified Enterprises (not Inc.), (178,125 shares of Class A and 559,500 shares of Class B) a general partnership as to which beneficial ownership is shared by the undersigned and his two brothers</footnote><footnote id="F2">All share information has been updated to reflect the 5 for 4 stock split effective February, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>G. Patrick Corydon on behalf of Norton Shapiro</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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