This is an original .56-50 Spencer metallic rimfire cartridge with the impressed “J.G.” headstamp of Joseph Goldmark of New York. He was in business from 1859 to 1881. Two common variations are known: one with the letters underlined and one without.

The cartridge is a drawn copper rimfire case with a lead bullet crimped into the open end. It is loaded with black powder.

Goldmark was best known for his percussion caps. These were issued by the millions to Union troops. He is believed to have made rimfire cartridges under government contract only from about 1864 to 1866. The .56-50 was developed late in the war at the urging of the Ordnance Department. It used a smaller .50 caliber bullet in place of the original .56-56 (.52 caliber) load. The round was made for the Spencer Model 1865 carbine. Earlier carbines were later rebarreled at Springfield Armory to take it. Most Model 1865 carbines arrived too late for Civil War service. The cartridge was used on the postwar frontier. Spencer carbines in .56-50 saw action with the cavalry and scouts in the Indian Wars of the late 1860s. They served until the Army adopted the trapdoor Springfield.

Reference #667 on page 391 of “Round Ball to Rimfire, Part Two” by Dean S. Thomas.  [jet] [ph:L]

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