<p>American 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 a white corosion (lead carbonate) present on most of the object, this can be caused by long-term exposure to carbon dioxide and is considered to be a common sign of old age in lead objects.</p>