<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1



Certificate                                                               Shares
 Number              SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS


                         HOUSTON AMERICAN ENERGY CORP.

             INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

                                 COMMON STOCK

         The Corporation is authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, $0.001 par value per share and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
$0.001 par value per share.

         This Certifies that ____________________________S P E C I M E N
________________ is the owner of _______ fully paid and non-assessable shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Houston American Energy Corp. (the
"Corporation").

         This Certificate is transferable only on the books of the Corporation
by the holder hereof in person, or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender
of this Certificate properly endorsed.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be
signed by its duly authorized officers this ______ day of _______, 20___.



         -----------------------                    ----------------------------
               PRESIDENT                                               SECRETARY



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         THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THE SECURITIES ARE "RESTRICTED SECURITIES" AND
HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO
DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF
SUCH SALE, PLEDGE, OR TRANSFER WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR
THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE.

         THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO
REQUESTS, A STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE,
PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES
THEREOF WHICH THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE AND THE QUALIFICATIONS,
LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. ANY SUCH REQUEST
IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                              <C>
TEN COM - as tenants in common                                                   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _____ Custodian _______
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties                                                                      (Cust)   (Minor)
JT TEN  - as joint tenants with right of                                                       under Uniform Gifts to Minors
          survivorship and not as tenants                                                                        Act _______
          in common                                                                                                  (State)
</TABLE>

    Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

         For Value Received, __________________________ hereby sell, assign
and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

---------------------------


________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________shares of Common Stock
represented by the within certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute
and appoint _____________________________________ attorney to transfer the said
shares on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of
substitution in the premises.


Dated ____________________


                                         _______________________________________


NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS
WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT
ALTERATION ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.