<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the American Financial Corporation 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 274,984 <SECURITIES> 11,648,155<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 729,577 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 16,164,475 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 549,857 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 72,154 <COMMON> 9,625 <OTHER-SE> 1,412,167 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 16,164,475 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,054,795 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 159,832 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,054 <INCOME-PRETAX> 173,405 <INCOME-TAX> 67,409 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 105,996 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (721) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 105,275 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F2> <FN> <F1>Includes an investment in investee of $240 million. <F2>Not applicable since all common shares are owned by American Financial Group, Inc. </FN>