<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule conatins summary financial information extracted from the American Financial Corporation 10-Q for the nine months ended Sepbember 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> $405,831 <SECURITIES> 11,287,608<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 754,855 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,589,991 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 539,895 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 72,154 <COMMON> 9,625 <OTHER-SE> 1,569,093 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 15,589,991 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,087,224 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 248,655 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 54,059 <INCOME-PRETAX> 262,583 <INCOME-TAX> 98,594 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 163,989 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (754) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> $163,235 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F2> <FN> <F1>Included an investment in investee of $233 million. <F2>Not applicable since all common shares are owned by American Financial Group, Inc. </FN>