I use different tools depending on the soil conditions. For instance, when working in a Saint Augustine lawn where the soil is fairly soft and rocks few I use a probe I made by rounding of the tip of a long shank Phillips screwdriver. I pinpoint as precisely as possible and then gently probe until I locate the coin. I then lift the probe away slightly before moving it around in a circle to create a small hole that I can lift the coin out of. This may sound like a lot of work but when I'm done you can't see I was ever there. Out where I currently live the soil is sandy with tons of rocks mixed in. The rocks range from tiny to the size of a hen's egg. I use a trowel with a thick blade to scoop sand and rocks out of the way until I find the target. Then I scrape the soil back into the hole and again you would be hard pressed to tell I'd ever been there. Of course, on a beach I use a sand scoop. After reading the recommendations on this thread I'm tempted to try a Lesche or the Garrett tool.
Storm