American Civil War era Minié ball style bullet used in muzzle-loaded rifled muskets. The bullet is made from lead and is conical in shape with a very pointed tip; there are three grooved rings around the base and the bottom is recessed to cause the maximum possible damage on impact. The base has been dented in on both sides, narrowing the recess; a white patina is beginning to form on the surface of the bullet, this is a normal sign of age and is most often caused by long-term exposure to carbon dioxide.