First off, you have to be a good pinpointer, good enough to get within a couple of inches of the coin. I use a rounded off straight screwdriver with a blade about 5 to 6 inches long. I GENTLY probe the ground until I touch the coin. I then will rotate the blade around to make a larger opening. After doing this, I keep touching the coin until my screwdriver misses the edge. Then I stick the tip under the coin and pry it out or pop it as some say. You don't want to probe with the tip very hard as you might damage an older coin. I use my screwdriver probe on about half the coins I find. It does not damage the grass and when you get good at it, I can pop a coin in seconds. Good luck and give it a try. R.L.
I HAVE TRIED THAT SAME METHOD, BUT I USE A GARRETT PROBE. IT HAS A SOFTER METAL
IN IT AND IS LESS LIKELY TO DAMAGE THE COIN. ONCE I LOCATE THE COIN I MOVE JUST OFF
THE EDGE AND WALLOW A HOLE TO PUT MY FINGER IN AND TRY TO PULL OUT THE COIN.
IT DOESN'T WORK EVERY TIME, BUT IT DOESN'T HARM THE COIN.
IT IS MY LUCKY PROBE.... I FOUND IT ABOUT A FOOT DEEP WHILE METAL DETECTING!
IF I CAN'T REACH THE COIN WITH MY FINGER, I FIGURE IT HAS A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF BEING AN OLDER AND MORE VALUABLE COIN. AND CAUTION ABOUT STICKING YOUR FINGER
INTO A HOLE TO PULL OUT AN UNKNOWN TARGET!!!
POP TABS AND OLD NAILS OR OLD KNIVES AND ON AND ON.... IT TAKES A LOT OF PENNIES TO PAY FOR A TETNIS SHOT.