Measures approx. 4" x 3" x ½", in aluminum, with the obverse featuring symbolic artwork commemorating БАМ (Байкало-Амурская Магистраль, Russian for Baikal-Amur Railroad). Maker marked on the bottom of the button of the latching mechanism.

In excellent condition. All the surfaces are very clean, inside and out, and free of any significant wear or damage, showing just a very shallow barely noticeable dent to the right of the letters "БАМ", and a few tiny scratches and scuff marks. All of the wear is not really detractive. Inside, 2 of the 4 elastic bands holding cigarettes in place are in place (pardon the redundancy!) and have retained their elasticity. The spring of the latching mechanism is free of rust and in perfect working condition. The halves of the case meet perfectly when closed.

Baikal-Amur Railroad was one of the most expensive, and costly in many ways, infrastructure projects in the entire history of the USSR. Its construction took 12 years, over which 4324 km (2,687 miles) of track was laid through Eastern Siberia and Far East, mostly over permafrost. It was meant to help with exploitation of natural resources of the regions it went through. However, most of the industrial facilities planned to be built there did not materialize for multiple reasons. A large part of the enormous human resources, lured into those areas to work and live in specially built cities and towns, gradually migrated back. The railroad continues to function at present and there is talk of plans to modernize and improve it to increase cargo throughput.

Please note that the penny in our photo is for size reference.