The world's cheapest item ever is subjective and can vary depending on the context. However, here are a few examples of items that have been considered extremely cheap:

1. Zimbabwean Dollar: During a period of hyperinflation, a single Zimbabwean dollar bill had a value of less than one cent USD [1].

2. Wheat: Wheat has historically been one of the cheapest commodities. In 1904, a bushel of wheat cost about $1.00 in 1904 dollars. Today, a $20 gold coin could buy about 187 bushels of wheat, which is equivalent to 11,220 pounds of wheat [2].

3. Eyeglasses: While the price of eyeglasses can vary widely, some frames can be as cheap as $8 to manufacture, but designer frames can cost up to $600. The profit percentage for eyeglasses can be well over 1,000% [3].

It's important to note that the concept of "cheapest" can be subjective and can vary depending on factors such as inflation, production costs, and market demand.

Learn more:

1. What is the world's cheapest item ever? - Quora
2. The Cheapest Thing on Earth | New World Economics
3. 17 Cheap Products That Are Expensive Because Of Greed