Abstract: An electrical current limiting device has a superconductive switching element. Unlike prior art superconductive current limiters whose switching mechanism is based on a quenching of the switching element, the inventive superconductive switching element is designed in such a manner that it is in the Shubnikov phase when the required short-circuit cutoff current is reached in the event current is limited. This enables the switching element to be operated in an operating state in which the generation of heat is limited to such an extent that the coolant surrounding the superconductor is able to completely dissipate the heat whereby achieving a stationary state at TS. A quenching of the superconductor, which is associated with an exceeding of TC, can thus be actively prevented so that, after an event in which current is limited, the superconductor is not required to be removed from the mains and recooled.