<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from American Financial Corporation 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> $360,603 <SECURITIES> 10,874,080<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 676,671 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,348,212 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 470,066 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 162,760 <COMMON> 9,625 <OTHER-SE> 1,272,887 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 15,348,212 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,933,171 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 163,796 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 46,126 <INCOME-PRETAX> 191,708 <INCOME-TAX> 69,004 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 122,704 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (78) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 122,626 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F2> <FN> <F1>Includes an investment in investees of $234 million. <F2>Not applicable since all common shares are owned by American Financial Group. </FN>