Catherine,
I'm new also, so I don't have lots of experience either. I'm sure the moderators could answer this better, but from what I understand, the letter in front of the #'s define the source of the coupons. So, PG is Proctor and Gamble, S is Smart Source, and V is Valassis. These are the different inserts that come in the papers.
The first set of numbers tells the date it was published. Feb 3rd in your example. The page number is next. If you cut all your coupons out, this normally isn't needed, but if you keep the whole insert, this makes it easier to find.
Hope that helps. I think we just need to be patient with ourselves, and understand that the sales come around often enough, that if you miss it, you can get it next time.
These forums are great, because they know everything. Good luck!