1943 Sports Badge: to clean or not to clean

[Carlyle]

I bought this pin a few years back. The date is hard to read. It has some ware but the stamping wasn’t real deep. My question is should I clean it or leave it as is. I would like the date to be easier to read.

Your thoughts on this as well as how to clean it. Thanks.

 

[crack]

No picture

 

[Carlyle]

No picture

Sorry about that. Here they are.

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[Carlyle]

I bought this pin a few years back. The date is hard to read. It has some ware but the stamping wasn’t real deep. My question is should I clean it or leave it as is. I would like the date to be easier to read.

Your thoughts on this as well as how to clean it. Thanks.

Forgot the photos in my earlier post.

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[cemifor]

The date is clear to me: 1943.

And my private opinion is, do not clean. If you do, the badge looses it's originality.

.

 

[Carlyle]

The date is clear to me: 1943.

And my private opinion is, do not clean. If you do, the badge looses it's originality.

.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. Unless you look at it under bright light and get very close to the pin it is very hard to make out the date.

 

[WernerBamberg]

Never ever clean.. part of the history.
Nice as it is.

 

[Carlyle]

Never ever clean.. part of the history.
Nice as it is.

Yes but tempting.

 

[kriegsmodell]

Do NOT Clean! Leave as is with the original patina .....

 

[volkund]

Yes but tempting.

i agree with the others here, i get it's tempting but unless it's leather care then do NOT clean it! this will reduce the value and remove the history on it.
hope this helps