Yes, that's a good idea ... with precise measurements of volume & weight 
(or even-better a volumetric displacement in cc) it would be possible to 
determine if that is lead, or not.

After giving-it-the-hairy-eyeball (again), I tend to lean toward 
Daniel's objections to it being a slug (based on its surface appearance 
& its non-conforming shape).

If it's brass, then it might be a 'finial' broken from any number of 
common 19th-century household items. One that springs-instantly-to-mind 
are the numerous styles of andirons (the antique dealers refer to them 
commonly as the "urn topped" style) that are topped-off with brass 
finials (of which the subject might be one). The solid-brass urn-topped 
andirons tended to be mostly found in more well-to-do households, but 
even the (more affordable, and, thus, more-often found in the homes of 
those of more modest means) cast-iron ones were quite-often topped-off 
with a flourish by adding cast brass finials, see examples at these URLs:

https://skinnerinc-res.cloudinary.com/images/w_640,h_640,d_l_wxesge.jpg,c_fit,/v1446205132/899028/pair-of-urn-top-brass-and-iron-knife-blade-andirons.jpg


http://www.beauchampantiques.com/inventory/pair-of-19th-century-french-cast-iron-andirons-with-brass-finial/


https://m.skinnerinc.com/search?s=Andirons&start=21&display=list&s=Andirons&view=30


On 11/15/2018 12:58 PM, r_a_green wrote:
> Maybe we should ask the original poster for the length, diameter and the weight as well?
>
> All lead projectiles do not oxidize the same. Some were lubricated and oxidize differently, and some may be found in ground conditions that also may alter the surface appearance. I have personally excavated numerous Civil War era Minie balls and even older period round musket balls with a very similar patina. While many will have the white, chalky textured surface, not all do.RichSent from my

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