1970.47.5.16.4 (Bullet)

1970.47.5.16.4 (Bullet) image

Civil War era Minié (or Minni) ball bullet, used in muzzle-loaded rifled muskets. The bullet is made from lead and conical in shape; there is a set of three grooves around the base; the bullet itself is lightweight and hollow, an intentional design created to cause the most damage possible. There is significant scarring throughout; some areas are just beginning to become corroded with lead carbonate, this is the result of exposure to carbon dioxide and is a common sign of age.