Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
BERDING JOHN B
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC [AFG] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

301 EAST FOURTH STREET, 27TH FLOOR		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2012
(Street)


CINCINNATI, OH 45202		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock             103,000 D  
Common Stock             33,271 I By Trust
Common Stock             2,451 (1) I ESPP
Common Stock             1,166.24 (2) I 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option $ 20.28             (3) 02/24/2015 Common
21,570
  21,570 (4)
I
By Trust
Employee Stock Option $ 26.8933             (3) 02/22/2016 Common
14,700
  14,700 (5)
I
By Trust
Phantom Stock               (6)   (6) Common
 
  1,001.85 (6)
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
BERDING JOHN B
301 EAST FOURTH STREET
27TH FLOOR
CINCINNATI, OH 45202		   X      

Signatures

John B. Berding By: Karl J. Grafe, as Attorney-in-Fact 02/13/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Shares allocated to the Reporting Person's account under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). All ESPP information reported herein is based on a plan statement dated as of 12/31/2012.
(2) Represents shares held in the Issuer's 401(k) Retirement and Savings Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock is based on a Plan Statement dated as of December 31, 2012.
(3) These Employee Stock Options ("Options") become exercisable as to 20% of the shares initially granted on the first anniversary of the date of grant, with an additional 20% becoming exercisable on each subsequent anniversary. The Options were granted under the Issuer's Stock Option Plan pursuant to Rule 16b-3.
(4) On December 21 2012, the Reporting Person transferred 21,570 stock options to a Trust.
(5) On December 21, 2012, the Reporting Person transferred 14,700 stock options to a trust.
(6) Represents amounts held by Reporting Person in a retirement plan of the Issuer based on a statement dated 12/31/2012. Each share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. The Reporting Person's account balance is distributed in cash following termination of employment.

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