The designs are simple and straight forward with the largest denomination depicting the first national president.

In 1975, notes denominated in ekuele replaced the peseta guineana at par.

In 1979, the portrait of Francisco Macías Nguema was removed from the currency of Equatorial Guinea after his overthrow on 3 August 1979, and subsequent execution on 29 September following a guilty verdict for crimes including genocide, mass murder, embezzlement of public funds, violations of human rights, and treason.

Equatorial Guinea entered the Franc Zone on 2 January 1985.

In the late 1980s, Equatorial Guinea joined the Central African States, which issued its notes thereafter.