An Israeli organization has minted a commemorative coin bearing U.S. President Donald Trump's image to honor his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the organization announced Wednesday. The coin cannot be used as currency.
The Mikdash Educational Center said its "Temple Coin" features an image of Trump alongside King Cyrus, who 2,500 years ago allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon. The coin also mentions the name Balfour, referring to the 1917 Balfour Declaration announcing the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people.
Rabbi Mordechai Persoff of the center said that Trump, like Cyrus, had made a "big declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of the holy people."
The organization says it has minted 1,000 half-shekel coins that can be purchased for a minimum donation of $50 each.
Mikdash bills itself as a nonprofit educational and religious organization. The donations will "help spread the light of Jerusalem and the spirit of the Holy Temple throughout the world," it said.
Israel has warmly welcomed Trump's Dec. 6 announcement, which angered Palestinians.
The Trump coin is likely to rile Iranians, who uniformly respect King Cyrus as an ancient Persian hero.
