Used in the breechloading Maynard carbine, this specimen of ammunition is a .50 caliber metallic cartridge with an extra wide base in excellent-plus condition. The artifact has a conical bullet head with a flat head attached to a cartridge case made of thin copper or brass.  The wide base of the cartridge acted as a seal to prevent the loss of explosive force when the carbine was fired and also made it easy to remove the casing from the weapon after it was fired. This is an excellent example of a Maynard metallic .50 caliber cartridge and a fine specimen of Civil War carbine ammunition.