Yes, I have used the coin/washer trick before...great method.
However, a stroke of genius came over me today and I found another simple method ! I wheeled the bike over behind my truck and hooked one of my motorcycle ratchet straps to the tow hitch mounting plate and connected the other hook to the handle of my spring hook, which was already hooked to the spring end, took up the slack and easily pulled the spring in my direction and simply hooked the spring onto the center-stand spring perch/tab, slackened and removed the strap, then the spring hook and done....worked like a charm !