Brass, enamels, lacquer; measures 31.9 mm in height x 25.8 mm in width; weighs 8.4 g not including the screw plate. The badge shows the nuclear-powered icebreaker Lenin rather than the icebreaker Stalin depicted on the earlier versions of the award. There is a raised late-style logo of the Moscow Mint on the reverse. The enamels and overall quality of the badge are superb.

In outstanding, excellent condition. The enamel is flawless, free of even the microscopic traces of wear that could be found with a 10x loupe. The raised details are pristine and extremely crisp. The screw post is full length, over 10 mm, and includes an original mint-marked screw plate.

This badge was the highest Soviet award for polar exploration, both Arctic and Antarctic. It was bestowed by the Ministry of Merchant Fleet of the USSR which financed the polar research program and was responsible for running it. The badge was issued rather sparingly during the Soviet era and is quite scarce.