diff --git a/generate/math_problem_graph.py b/generate/math_problem_graph.py
index ce7edb93..e58be6d5 100644
--- a/generate/math_problem_graph.py
+++ b/generate/math_problem_graph.py
@@ -366,11 +366,28 @@ class MathProblemGraph:
                 )
             seen.add(e)
         entity_set = set(self.entities)
+        # ADR-0174 Phase 3 diagnostic — refuse contradictory initial
+        # possessions for the same (entity, unit). Surfaced 2026-05-28
+        # by post-merge diagnostic: prior behavior silently overwrote
+        # earlier with later in math_solver.solve()'s state dict, so
+        # 'Sam has 5 marbles. Sam has 3 marbles.' returned 3.0 — a
+        # wrong=0 violation (definite answer from contradictory input).
+        # Refuse at construction; admit duplicates only when the value
+        # matches (redundant but not contradictory).
+        seen_initial: dict[tuple[str, str], int | float] = {}
         for p in self.initial_state:
             if p.entity not in entity_set:
                 raise MathGraphError(
                     f"initial_state references unknown entity {p.entity!r}"
                 )
+            key = (p.entity, p.quantity.unit)
+            if key in seen_initial and seen_initial[key] != p.quantity.value:
+                raise MathGraphError(
+                    f"initial_state contains contradictory possessions for "
+                    f"({p.entity!r}, {p.quantity.unit!r}): "
+                    f"{seen_initial[key]} vs {p.quantity.value}"
+                )
+            seen_initial[key] = p.quantity.value
         for op in self.operations:
             if op.actor not in entity_set:
                 raise MathGraphError(
diff --git a/tests/test_math_problem_graph.py b/tests/test_math_problem_graph.py
index d31ed8a4..c2f7277c 100644
--- a/tests/test_math_problem_graph.py
+++ b/tests/test_math_problem_graph.py
@@ -185,6 +185,78 @@ class TestGroundTruthGraphsAgreeWithExpectedAnswers:
         )
 
 
+class TestContradictoryInitialPossessionsRefuse:
+    """ADR-0174 Phase 3 post-merge diagnostic — surfaced 2026-05-28.
+
+    Before this fix, two contradictory initial possessions for the
+    same (entity, unit) silently overwrote each other in
+    math_solver.solve()'s state dict (line 207: last-write-wins
+    semantics). 'Sam has 5 marbles. Sam has 3 marbles.' would return
+    3.0 — a wrong=0 violation (definite answer from genuinely
+    contradictory input).
+
+    Fix: MathProblemGraph.__post_init__ now raises MathGraphError on
+    contradictory (entity, unit) initial possessions. Identical
+    duplicates are admitted (redundant but not contradictory).
+    """
+
+    def _ip(self, entity: str, value: int, unit: str) -> InitialPossession:
+        return InitialPossession(
+            entity=entity, quantity=Quantity(value=value, unit=unit)
+        )
+
+    def test_contradictory_initial_possessions_refused(self) -> None:
+        with pytest.raises(MathGraphError, match="contradictory possessions"):
+            MathProblemGraph(
+                entities=("Sam",),
+                initial_state=(
+                    self._ip("Sam", 5, "marbles"),
+                    self._ip("Sam", 3, "marbles"),
+                ),
+                operations=(),
+                unknown=Unknown(entity="Sam", unit="marbles"),
+            )
+
+    def test_identical_duplicate_initial_admitted(self) -> None:
+        # Redundant but not contradictory — must admit.
+        g = MathProblemGraph(
+            entities=("Sam",),
+            initial_state=(
+                self._ip("Sam", 5, "marbles"),
+                self._ip("Sam", 5, "marbles"),
+            ),
+            operations=(),
+            unknown=Unknown(entity="Sam", unit="marbles"),
+        )
+        assert len(g.initial_state) == 2
+
+    def test_different_units_same_actor_admitted(self) -> None:
+        # Sam has apples AND Sam has oranges — no contradiction.
+        g = MathProblemGraph(
+            entities=("Sam",),
+            initial_state=(
+                self._ip("Sam", 5, "apples"),
+                self._ip("Sam", 3, "oranges"),
+            ),
+            operations=(),
+            unknown=Unknown(entity="Sam", unit="apples"),
+        )
+        assert len(g.initial_state) == 2
+
+    def test_different_actors_same_unit_admitted(self) -> None:
+        # Sam has marbles AND Tom has marbles — different keys.
+        g = MathProblemGraph(
+            entities=("Sam", "Tom"),
+            initial_state=(
+                self._ip("Sam", 5, "marbles"),
+                self._ip("Tom", 3, "marbles"),
+            ),
+            operations=(),
+            unknown=Unknown(entity="Sam", unit="marbles"),
+        )
+        assert len(g.initial_state) == 2
+
+
 class TestCaseIdsAreSequential:
     def test_ids_are_gpd_zero_padded_sequential(self) -> None:
         cases = _load_cases()