"What In The Heck Is That?" | Austrian Bravery Medal

Franz Joseph I became the Emperor in 1848 as a young man and ruled for 68 years. His image on the coins and medals has changed a few times to reflect his age. I have a 1877 coin, see below, on which he already looks older than on your medal. On the coins of WWI period, he looks MUCH older. So it looks like the medal was issued for the 1866 war or another conflict earlier than 1877, if my silver florin is any indicator.

There is another thought: in 1848-1866 Franz Iosif I was styled the Emperor of Austria (Kaiser von Oesterreich) as written on the medal. From 1867 on, he was ALSO the King of Hungary. Both styles appear on many (though not all) coins from 1867 to 1916. For example, I have coins dated 1859 and 1864 with the legend (in German) exactly as on your medal. On my 1879 coin, the legend is in Latin and only the Emperor's title is used on it. On my 1893 coin, both the Emperor and King's titles are present. So it looks like the medal can be dated 1866 after all.