American Civil War era Minié ball style bullet used in muzzle-loaded rifled muskets. The bullet is made of lead and conical in shape with the grooved tri-rings and recessed base that characterize the Minié ball style, but it has been deformed, or possibly carved, into an unusual shape. There is a rim formed around the tip that makes it appear as though the entire top has been pushed in slightly, but the pointed nose of the tip has not been flattened like it would be if this shaping had been caused by impact after firing; there are scratches, dents, and gouges of varying severity, size, and depth, these scratches have concealed the tri-rings in some areas; one small section of the base is completely smooth, completely erasing the rings. A white patina is beginning to form on the surface of the bullet, this is considered to be a normal sign of age in lead objects and is frequently caused by exposure to carbon dioxide.