Process for electrowinning of metals

An electrowinning process for the recovery of various metals including copper, zinc and nickel from an aqueous electrolyte in an electrolytic cell containing anodes and cathodes is disclosed wherein the anodes are formed from a lead alloy containing from about 0.05% to about 0.25% by weight strontium. The lead alloy for the anodes also preferably includes from about 0.005% to about 0.1% by weight aluminum alone or in further combination with either about 0.1% to about 5.0% by weight tin or at least 0.01% by weight silver, the lead alloy anodes having a hard, adherent oxide surface layer preferably formed in situ within the electrolytic cell.