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

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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(Print or Type Responses)
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. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/18/2012
(Street)

CINCINNATI, OH 45202
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(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 Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 12/18/2012   M   26,000 A $ 20.28 124,070 (1) D  
Common Stock 12/18/2012   S   26,000 D $ 39.581 (2) 98,070 D  
Common Stock 12/20/2012   M   4,930 A $ 20.28 103,000 D  
Common Stock               33,271 (1) I By Trust
Common Stock               2,291.3851 (1) I ESPP
Common Stock               1,144.484 (3) I 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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 Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option Exercise $ 20.28 12/18/2012   M     26,000   (4) 02/24/2015 Common 26,000 $ 0 21,570 D  
Stock Option Exercise $ 20.28 12/20/2012   M     4,930   (4) 02/24/2015 Common 4,930 $ 0 0 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   12/20/2012
**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) Reflects transfers of 33,271 shares, including 11,317 shares from the Reporting Person's direct holdings and 21,954 shares from the Reporting Person's Employee Stock Purchase Plan holdings.
(2) The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $39.49 to $39.695, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to American Financial Group, Inc., ("AFG"), any security holder of AFG, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (1) to this Form 4.
(3) 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 April 30, 2012.
(4) 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.

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