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In this period of Cuban history, Frank PAIS and Fidel CASTRO initiated a dynamic change in direction that was called the "Movimiento 26 Juli". The 26th of July Movement was a Cuban revolutionary organization and later a Political party led by Fidel Castro.

The movement's name commemorates its 26 July 1953 attack on the Moncada army barracks at Santiago de Cuba in an attempt to start the overthrow of the President and dictator Fulgencio Batista.
José Antonio Echeverría was a student leader and founding member
of the Directorio Revolucionario Estudantil (DRE), a militant organization
that played an important role in the Cuan Revolution to oust President
Batista.

The 5 peso banknote was "issued" starting in 1958, contains the effigy of Máximo Gómez, cargo &  machete and the 10 pesos starting in 1956 with the effugie of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and the ruins of the La Demajagua sugar mill.

How Did Fidel Castro's Finance the Revolution?

1. He started by becoming an international celebrity after he was interviewed by The New York Times in 1958.

2. He established the underground newspaper El Acusador (The Accuser).

3. He sold "History Will Absolve Me" books, with an initial print run of 27,500 copies and accept all related donations.

4. He accepted a $100,000 donation from former Cuba President Carlos Prío Socarrás in NYC, which in today's dollars is about $1,000,000 USD.

5. He also solicited help from Argentina, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela and encouraging them to issue local revolution bonos.

6. He received financial and weapons support from early 27-6 Movement leader Frank País.

7. He "issued" unbacked currency bonds or "Bonos' which were not circulated banknotes but were essentially donation receipts with themes that branded and promoted the cause of the revolution.

26 July Movement