As one of the above posts only comment on this fuse, it does have shiny solder. Thats because it was capped and in the bottom of a soldiers trunk for 145+ years. The North South Trader article is worth reading to learn more about the trove of one of the first Civil War relic collectors who brought it home along with some other fantastic things. The note was with it as well, but I did not take it out of its protective sleeve to photograph