Bullet with strange markings

[Ripcon]

I was cleaning up this .58 caliber minie ball I found today in west central Mississippi and noticed that it has two distinct half moon impressions on opposite sides of the bullet. They certainly appear to be intentional. My question is - Is this some type of molding mark?? I've attached several different angles. Any help would be appreciated. I've never seen marks like this on a minie ball before. Thanks!

 

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[Retired Fire]

Im thinking it may be some simple carved bullet design or mabe they started and never finished.

 

[Ripcon]

Thanks!

 

[Dharmacy]

Chess piece perhaps?

D.

 

[Tedyoh]

Home made ramrod marks? Like a pipe?

 

[crypticrecon]

It was most likely notched by the soldier it belonged to. Notching it would increase the damage to their target... more shrapnel. The cuts are symmetrical. Actually with the flaps like that it coulda maybe created shrapnel coming right out the barrel making it a sorta shotgun. Minnie balls were designed to expand and deform once the charge was ignited so anything coulda really happened when firing...imho

 

[Rookster]

Hope this can help.