[ARTICLE] 6
[LEGEND]
[RESTATED]
[CIK] 0000751173
[NAME] EXETER FUND, INC.
[SERIES]
[NAME] DIVERSIFIED TAX EXEMPT SERIES
[NUMBER] 18
[MULTIPLIER] 1
[CURRENCY] 1
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] DEC-31-2000
[PERIOD-START] JAN-01-2000
[PERIOD-END] DEC-31-2000
[PERIOD-TYPE] 6-MOS
[EXCHANGE-RATE] 1
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 40765317
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 40165005
[RECEIVABLES] 677911
[ASSETS-OTHER] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 40842916
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 1115995
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 46239
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 1162234
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 40142111
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 3959675
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 3054006
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 143896
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] (5013)
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] (600312)
[NET-ASSETS] 39680682
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 902280
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 121147
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 781133
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] (2061)
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 845491
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 1624563
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 702252
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 1250398
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 412464
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 67735
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 9920145
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 65015
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] (2952)
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 82965
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 121147
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 33418730
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 9.74
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.21
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0.26
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] 0.19
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 10.02
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 0.73
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
